Britain vows to change the law
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has vowed to change the law that allows courts to issue arrest warrants for visiting politicians under the country's universal jurisdiction statute. Miliband made the promise in the aftermath of the arrest warrant issued at the beginning of the week for Israeli opposition leader and former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Foreign Secretary David Miliband later announced that Britain would no longer tolerate legal harassment of Israeli officials in this fashion.
Speaking after meeting Israel's London ambassador Tuesday night, Miliband said the British law permitting judges to issue arrest warrants against foreign dignitaries without any prior knowledge or advice by a prosecutor must be reviewed and reformed.
Miliband said the British government was determined that arrest threats against visitors of Livni's stature would not happen again.
"Israel is a strategic partner and a close friend of the United Kingdom. We are determined to protect and develop these ties," Miliband said. "Israeli leaders - like leaders from other countries - must be able to visit and have a proper dialogue with the British government."
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Earlier Tuesday, Miliband called Livni to express his shock over the arrest warrant and pledged to address the matter immediately.
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Miliband earlier in the day denounced the arrest warrant as insufferable, after Israel warned that the matter could harm bilateral ties.
Miliband made the comments during a meeting with Israel's ambassador to Court of St. James, Ron Prosor. The Israeli envoy asked to discuss the matter with Miliband on Monday, following news that Livni had canceled her trip to Britain after a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Prosor told Miliband that the British government must work immediately to combat the grave phenomenon of arrest warrants being issued against senior Israeli officials.
Israel Matzav: Britain vows to change the law
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