UK Red Carpet For War Criminal

FROM TZIPI WITH LOVE

Former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is to visit Britain, after the British government, motivated by Israel, made reforms in a law on issuing arrest warrants for war criminals.
Livni, who cancelled a visit to Britain in 2009 fearing arrest over crimes committed during Gaza war, will travel to the UK on Thursday, and will meet Foreign Secretary William Hague to discuss bilateral relations between UK and Israel.
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed the news, saying, "We can confirm Tzipi Livni intends to visit the UK this week. As leader of the Israeli opposition she will have a number of meetings, including with the Foreign Secretary to discuss UK Israel relations and recent events in the region."
Since 2001, UK's universal jurisdiction law has given the power to British courts to prosecute suspected war criminals and torturers, even if their crimes took place in another country. The principle of the law goes back to the belief that some crimes including genocide, torture and hostage-taking must be fought wherever the criminal can be arrested.
Last month, the British government that was under constant pressure from Israel, announced a legal reform to make it harder for anti-war campaigners to get arrest warrants against those who are suspected of committing human rights abuses in other countries.
Human rights activists have condemned the government for turning a blind eye to the tyrants and torturers and their human rights violations. Amnesty International accused the government of giving war criminals a “free ticket to escape the law.”
Several other Israeli officials were affected by the former British law, including Israeli Minister for Military Affairs Ehud Barak, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor and Brigadier-General Avi Benayahu, who came to Britain under a fake identity this year.
In 2007, Israeli public security minister Avi Dichter was forced to refuse an invitation from British officials after being informed he would be detained for his part in the assassination of a Hamas leader, killing 14 people, including nine children.
Speaking at a Conservative Friends of Israel meeting, director Stuart Polak insisted that Livni always wanted to come to Britain once the British officials provided change to the law and prevent her from being arrested by pro-Palestinian activists.
He added that she could now visit Britain under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, which was assented last month.
"It has been a blot on the landscape of the relations of the UK and Israel which is why David Cameron and William Hague said in opposition that it should be rectified, which is what they have done,” Polak said.