Israel Matzav: Four IDF officers cancel Brit trip over arrest warnings

Four IDF officers cancel Brit trip over arrest warnings

Four IDF officers who were recently invited to Britain by the British army canceled their trip out of fear that they would be arrested upon their arrival in Britain.

Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approached the British government in order to ensure that the officers, a colonel, lieutenant colonel and a major, would be able to stay on British soil without fear.

The British authorities could not make such a promise and therefore the delegation's visit was canceled.

The incident is viewed with great severity by Israeli government officials.

Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon said that "should we not get the appropriate securities and if the British law remains unchanged, Israeli officers and seniors will not be able to travel to Britain, which would undermine the good relations between the two countries who share common values and interests. The British must bear in mind that these visits serve both countries."

Meanwhile, British Attorney General Baroness Patricia Janet Scotland is currently visiting Israel and is expected to meet with Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman and elements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Haaretz has details of a meeting on Tuesday between British Attorney General Baroness Patricia Janet Scotland and Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.

Ayalon said the warrants issued against senior Israeli officials "make it difficult for the two countries to maintain a normal relationship."

He also stressed that the majority of Israeli citizens have served in the IDF, and as such would be unable to visit the U.K., which Ayalon said would damage British interests as well.

Scotland said she was aware of the urgent need to address the warrants being issued in her country against Israeli officials over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Ayalon on Tuesday appealed to Scotland to find an immediate solution to the "intolerable" situation, warning that the U.K. legal system's acceptance of pro-Palestinian group's lawsuits threatened to "undermine relations" between the two countries.

The Brits have to decide which side they're on in the war on terror. Somehow, when Tony Blair was in power, that seemed a lot clearer than it does today. If they decide they're with the West, they'll find a way to work this out. If they're going to continue to kowtow to their Muslim population, pretty soon there won't be much to talk about.

Israel Matzav: Four IDF officers cancel Brit trip over arrest warnings