Middle East Online 30 September 2009
Judge denies request to arrest Israeli defence minister for committing war crimes during UK visit.
BRIGHTON, England – Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak branded Tuesday a bid to have him arrested in Britain “absurd” as he attended the governing Labour party’s annual conference.
Aactivists lodged an application in a London court for the arrest warrant over Israel’s offensive in Gaza in 2008, which left more than 1,400 Palestinians, mainly civilian.
The request was denied by a judge after a hearing on the grounds of diplomatic immunity for Barak, according to lawyers who filed the application.
Barak said Israeli officials should be able to move freely between countries without fearing arrest.
“Israel has to see to it that Israeli officials and high ranking officers can move freely in the world,” Barak said in a brief statement to reporters in Brighton.
The visit came as the judge who wrote the report earlier Tuesday presented it to the UN Human Rights Council, and accused Israel of committing “war crimes” during the conflict.
Barak later attended a fringe meeting at the Labour conference in Brighton, on England’s south coast, organised by the Friends of Israel group.
A group of nine Labour lawmakers demonstrated against his presence, while human rights protesters also rallied on the Brighton seafront.
“The Friends of Israel should not allow their event to be used in this way as a platform for a man who has been accused of war crimes,” said lawmaker Martin Linton, the chairman of the Labour Friends of Palestine group.
About 100 protesters staged a peaceful rally on the seafront opposite the hotel where the event was held.
Holding banners saying “Wanted Ehud Barak 1,400 dead” and “Ehud Barak War Criminal,” the British crowd chanted “shame on you.”
In London, lawyers lodged an application at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court for the arrest warrant to be issued for Barak, on grounds of war crimes in connection with the Gaza offensive.
“We are disappointed that the application for an arrest warrant was denied by the judge today,” lawyer Tayab Ali said.
“He (Barak) was effectively able to hide behind the diplomatic immunity he has been given because of his senior position in the Israeli government.”
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Israel is in a battle for self defense of civilian population that has been bombarded by HAMAS rockets for the past 8 years.
HAMAS leaders should be put on trial for using its own population as human shields, and bombarding israeli civilian population at the same time.
Not Ehud Barak, neither any of Israel’s leaders and military personnell will be charged by any international court!
Michal if you perused this website even a little you’d realise how ludicrous your comments are. Every Israeli Leader who contributes to the genocide currently being enacted on the Palestinian People deserves prosecution and more.
The Goldstone report clearly states that Israel and its soldiers commited war crimes in Gaza. What more proof do you need?
A Free Palestine in our Lifetime God Willing!!!