Blair promises to aid Dichter with travel to UK
Quartet envoy to Middle East surprised to hear Israeli minister unable to enter Britain for fear he will be arrested for his involvement in Hamas leader's death in 2002, pledges matter will be sorted out
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter met on Friday afternoon with International Middle East envoy Tony Blair, who was surprised to hear Dichter say that he was unable to travel to the United Kingdom for fear that an arrest warrant would be issued against him by local authorities over the July 2002 killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Salah Shehadeh.
Dichter, served as Shin Bet chief during the aerial attack on Shehadeh's Gaza home which also left 14 Palestinian civilians dead, cancelled a planned visit to Britain in June 2007 because of this.
Blair said that the claim was nonsensical and told Dichter that he had taken care of the matter while still in office and believed it had been resolved. The British envoy promised he would look into the problematic issue.
During their meeting the two discussed security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians. Dichter told Blair that in order for Israel to be able to work with the Palestinian police there must be a hierarchy of law enforcement within the Palestinian Authority.
According to British law, citizens may file complaints against "war criminals" and demand that the courts issue arrest warrants against them. Local Palestinian groups have repeatedly taken advantage of this clause.
Following Shehadeh's death, a criminal lawsuit was filed in Britain against Israeli security officials allegedly involved in the attack.
Dichter not alone
In September 2006, former IDF Southern Commander Major-General (res.) Doron Almog was forced to abandon plans to visit Britain at the last minute, after Muslim groups charged him with crimes against humanity for "his military role against the Palestinian people." Israel's ambassador in London, Tzvi Hefetz, spoke with Almog during the flight, advised him not to get off the plane, and said if he entered Britain he would be served with the claim.
Immediately upon landing in London, Almog returned to Israel.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and ex-Gaza Division Commander Aviv Kochavi have refrained from visiting Britain for the same reason.
A US federal court ruled in May 2007 that Dichter could not be indicted in the United States for his role in Shehadeh's assassination.
