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UK delays changing law for Israeli war criminals

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Nov 23, IRNA -- Controversial plans to make it more difficult to arrest alleged Israeli war criminals visiting the UK have been further delayed despite the suspension of the strategic dialogue between London and Tel Aviv.

“Changes to universal jurisdiction legislation in the UK are expected to be in place next year,” Foreign Office Minister Lord Hpwell (pictured) told parliament.

In a written parliamentary reply published Tuesday, Howell insisted that despite Israel’s suspension of the strategic dialogue, the UK will continue plans to alter the change in law according to “our own timetable.”

News of the suspension was revealed during Foreign Secretary William Hague’s visit to Israel earlier this month and was linked to the diplomatic dispute over the UK’s delay in changing the law on universal jurisdiction.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced in July that the coalition government would bring in a suitable amendment to universal jurisdiction “at the first opportunity” but has yet to introduce any legislative measure.

Since then, 105 MPs have signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion declaring their opposition to any change aimed at restricting court powers to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over war crimes when visiting the UK.

The previous Labour government also failed to keep its pledge to change the law after a warrant was issued last December for the arrest of former foreign minister Tzipi Livni over her role in the latest Gaza massacres, forcing her to cancel a visit to the UK.

Last month, the delay in changing the law was reported to have caused Israel to cancel a high-level security dialogue meeting that was due to be held in London. Several other Israel leaders have also cancelled visits for fear of being arrested for war crimes.

Howell said that during Hague’s visit to Israel, both sides “affirmed their shared commitment to an early meeting of the high-level UK-Israel strategic dialogue” but no venue was mentioned.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30088412