The Curmudgeon

YOU'LL COME FOR THE CURSES. YOU'LL STAY FOR THE MUDGEONRY.

Friday, February 03, 2006

General Doron Almog, And Others

The Government is considering "weakening laws designed to capture alleged war criminals and torturers who enter Britain". In light of recent indiscretions over Rumsfeldian rendition, not to mention emerging evidence of a conspiracy to wage aggressive war, this is hardly a surprise, though the case of Pinochet the Protected should give comfort to some.

Attack dogs are not supposed to turn on each other, and concern has been expressed by our Middle Eastern kennel-mate after an attempt to arrest one General Doron Almog, who is alleged to have ordered the destruction of fifty-nine civilian homes in reprisals for the deaths of Israeli soldiers. The warrant for Almog's arrest was issued last September by Bow Street magistrates in London, upon application from lawyers representing Palestinians who claim that they suffered because of illegal orders issued by the general. According to Almog, the Israeli attaché in London tipped him off; and, doubtless sceptical of his chances of a fair trial, he stayed on the plane and flew back home.

The warrant for Almog's arrest is "believed to be the first of its kind issued in Britain against an Israeli national over conduct in the Palestinian conflict", apparently because most Israeli nationals with responsibilities in the "Palestinian conflict" are discreet enough to avoid coming to Britain. Still, an unhealthy precedent had been set. The Israeli government complained to the Home Office and the Foreign Office; Jack Straw rolled onto his back and urinated over himself; and the warrant was duly withdrawn. For the Home Office, a spokesbeing announced that the Government is "currently considering a range of matters relating to the issuing of arrest warrants in international cases". The Israeli embassy has expressed a wish to find a solution to the unacceptable face of British law, which "has been used by people to promote their own agenda", something the Righteous State would never think of doing.

The British government, meanwhile, has denied that the Americans want the law changed, perhaps in the belief that they will have less trouble if they change it on behalf of the Israelis instead.

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