The UK's Selective Application of the Universal Jurisdiction Law

Soeren Kern
Hudson New York
22 November '10

During his first official visit to Israel, British Foreign Secretary William Hague on November 3 publicly promised to make it safe for Israeli leaders to travel to Britain without the risk of being detained on allegations of war crimes. Hague made the commitment after Israel unilaterally suspended the annual UK-Israel Strategic Dialogue -- a forum meant to symbolize close ties between the two countries -- to protest the abuse of the British legal system by activists pursuing an anti-Israel political agenda.

The long-running dispute over Britain's controversial law on universal jurisdiction, which allows pro-Palestinian activists to bring private prosecutions against visiting Israeli dignitaries, came to a head on November 1, when Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor cancelled a planned visit to London after receiving information that he might be facing a lawsuit or an arrest warrant upon arrival in Britain.

Meridor was notified that he may face charges connected to his alleged role in the Israeli commando raid on the Gaza-bound ship Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010. The Israeli raid resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish activists who were attempting to break a blockade on the Gaza Strip.

After a warrant, however, for former Israeli Foreign Misister Tzipi Livni's arrest was issued in December 2009, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the situation in Britain as an "absurdity." In a statement, Netanyahu said: "We will not accept a situation in which [former Israeli Prime Minister] Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni will be summoned to the defendants' chair. We will not agree to have Israel Defence Force soldiers, who defended the citizens of Israel bravely and ethically against a cruel and criminal enemy, be recognized as war criminals. We completely reject this absurdity taking place in Britain."

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