UK to Ease Law for War Crimes Suspects

A new bill proposed by the British government gives the chance to war crimes suspects visiting the UK to escape without facing an arrest threat, newspaper reports said.

Under proposed new laws in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility bill, visiting foreign officials suspected of war crimes can only be arrested in Britain if a warrant is approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The move comes after the Israeli regime suspended the next session of the annual “UK-Israeli Strategic Dialogue” until its authorities could travel to Britain without fear of arrest.

Israel has long been dismayed that pro-Palestinian activists in Britain managed to bring private prosecutions against its visiting authorities who have Palestinians’ blood on their hands.

Last December, the then Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni canceled a trip to London after pro-Palestinian activists tried to launch a prosecution against her for committing war crimes during Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip last year and the ensuing crippling siege on the impoverished Palestinians there.

Israeli deputy prime minister Dan Meridor was also forced to cancel a visit last month following warnings that he could face an arrest warrant.

British foreign secretary William Hague in a recent visit to the occupied Palestinian territories, promised the Israeli authorities to introduce a bill at the parliament upon return to change the law of Universal Jurisdiction in favor of the Israeli regime.

However, the Amnesty International warned that the move would give war crimes suspects a “free ticket to escape the law”.

(Press TV)

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