Doron Almog, center, is among IDF generals who could face trial in Britain.
Posted on 09/13/2005 7:49:39 AM PDT by SmithL
An Israeli left wing group has filed a lawsuit in the United Kingdom against Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz and his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. (res.) Moshe Ya'alon, for their involvement in the 2002 assassination of Hamas leader Salah Shehadeh.
Halutz has been shrouded in controversy ever since July 2002, when under his command as head of the Air Force, a war plane dropped a one-ton bomb in downtown Gaza City on the apartment building of Shehadeh, killing 15 civilians along with Shehadeh, and wounding 150.
In addition, the Yesh Gvul group announced that it was withdrawing a petition it filed with the High Court of Justice regarding the raid and its consequences after it had "lost faith in the Supreme Court's ability to rule on matters pertaining to the IDF's severe violations of international law, to the extent of war crimes."
Meanwhile, a lawyer representing a UK Palestinian group that filed a lawsuit against IDF Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog has demanded that the Scotland Yard investigate the actions of Israeli diplomats in aiding the senior officer's hasty departure, the Guardian reported on Tuesday.
Daniel Machover said Israeli officials had been involved in "calculated interference" in thwarting British justice. "There needs to be a criminal investigation of the actions taken by Israeli embassy staff. They are not located here to assist Israelis to evade British justice," he said.
Machover also called for a police inquiry into how the information was leaked to the Israeli embassy and how the Israeli diplomat got through various layers of security at Heathrow to board the plane and warn Almog.
On Sunday, Almog – former OC Southern Command – evaded arrest at Heathrow Airport in London after he was warned not to disembark from an El Al flight because British detectives were waiting to arrest him. The arrest warrant had been issued on Saturday by the Bow Street Magistrate's Court at the request of a pro-Palestinian Muslim group.
I would send lawyers, but not the men. Claim no jurisdiction Basically tell them FU. War is hell.
Too bad it wasnt a Moab he dropped.
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