U.K. court cancels warrant against Almog
British court annuls warrant for the arrest of former IDF Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog in light of the fact that Almog had left the U.K. and is therefore ‘no longer under the court’s jurisdiction’; Prior to the court’s decision, Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) Director says arrest warrant constitutes a major achievement, as ‘it marks the second legal precedent following the arrest of (Chilean dictator Augusto) Pinochet’
The arrest warrant issued by a British court against former IDF Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog was canceled Friday.
The British judge said the warrant was annulled in light of the fact that Almog had left the country and is therefore “no longer under the court’s jurisdiction.”
Diplomatic sources said the warrant issued against Almog was defined as urgent, and was issued without the authorization of the British Attorney General and has been canceled now that Almog has left the U.K
Prior to the court’s decision, Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) Director Raji Sourani said, ‘we followed former Israeli Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Doron Almog’s moves prior to his flight to London and then turned to the British ant-terror unit to have him arrested.”
He said the arrest warrant constitutes a major achievement, as “it marks the second legal precedent following the arrest of (Chilean dictator Augusto) Pinochet.”
Timothy Workman, the president of the London Magistrates court, issued an arrest warrant against Almog for suspicion of severe infringements of the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Israel's ambassador in London, Tzvi Hefetz, spoke with Almog as the former IDF commander was making his way to London, 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.
'Settlers are criminals of war'
The PCHR claimed Almog received word of his expected arrest from sources within the British police. Sourani said this was a dangerous act that hurt the credibility of the British police, adding that a complaint has been filed with the police in a bid to launch an investigation into the leak.
He said his organization would demand that the diplomatic immunity of Hefetz and his military attache would be revoked and that they be expelled from the U.K.
Sourani said his organization plans to file similar complaints against the settlers.
“The settlements are a war crime, and the settlers are criminals of war. This is not a Palestinian definition; this is what international law states,” he said.
“The settlements were set up on confiscated lands; the natural resources of these lands were exploited and Palestinian homes were destroyed. We must remain loyal to the pain and tortures our nation has suffered from and we will track down each and every settler war criminal.”