UK considers curbing citizens' right to arrest alleged war criminals

[Scurrilous]

Move follows Israeli anger over warrant for general
· Lawyer protests at police failure to board plane

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"The government is considering weakening laws designed to capture alleged war criminals and torturers who enter Britain, after pressure from the Israeli government, the Guardian has learned.

The changes would bar individuals from seeking international warrants for the arrest of people suspected of serious human rights abuses. The government has confirmed that Israeli officials have lobbied for changes in the law, which has kept some of their military officials away from Britain in case there should be an attempt to arrest them.

The proposals follow Israeli anger after an attempt was made to arrest one of their senior retired generals, Doron Almog, at Heathrow last September. He was tipped off that police were waiting to arrest him for alleged war crimes in Gaza. He stayed on the El Al plane and flew back to Israel. The warrant was issued by Bow Street magistrates, central London, after an application from lawyers representing Palestinians who say they suffered because of the Israeli general's alleged illegal orders."

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"Gen Almog said he was tipped off by the Israeli military attache in London, who boarded his plane at Heathrow. Police rejected demands to investigate who tipped off the general, saying in a letter seen by the Guardian from Peter Clarke, the national anti-terrorism coordinator, that they lacked the resources to do so.

Daniel Machover, the solicitor who brought the prosecution, has made an official complaint about the lack of an investigation and police "failure" to board Gen Almog's plane at Heathrow. Mr Machover said any change would weaken the government's claim to be resolute in fighting serious human rights abuses."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,,1701276,00.html