NGO asks British court to issue arrest warrant for visiting MK
The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Britain alleges Yesh Atid MK and former IDF Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern committed war crimes during his IDF career.
Stern is visiting the UK as part of a delegation advocating against the BDS Movement at leading London universities.
The British-Arab organization noted that during Maj. Gen. (res.) Stern's tenure in the IDF, he took part in military operations in which war crimes were committed, mentioning particularly the first Lebanon War and the Sabra and Shatila massacre, when MK Stern was serving as an officer in the Paratroopers Brigade.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain, the Office of the Speaker of the Knesset and the Knesset Guard were informed of the request and forwarded the information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MK Stern was briefed how to conduct himself and he was advised to keep a low profile and not do any media interviews. He is scheduled to return to Israel on Thursday.
"Israel regrets the cynical attempt to use the British legal system for anti-Israel political goals. We are confident that British authorities will not fall in the trap," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon.
The Yesh Atid youth delegation arrived in London earlier this week to speak in front of students at universities such as Oxford and Cambridge about the boycott against Israel. The delegation met with students, MPs, Jewish community representatives and student leaders.
"I am proud to lead a delegation of young people on an information campaign to British campuses and to represent Israel against the de-legitimization campaign being launched against us," said MK Stern before the trip to London. "The struggle for world opinion is a difficult challenge for the State of Israel and is important for our future as a country. As such, we at Yesh Atid took it upon ourselves to lead this just struggle for Israel in the world and confront students in Europe to tell them the truth about Israel."
