[images added by this website] YNet News Monday, September 12, 2005 Israeli general flees London Former Southern Command chief abandons plans to visit Britain after Muslim groups try to get arrest warrant for 'crimes against humanity' FORMER IDF Southern Commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog was forced Sunday to abandon plans to visit Britain at the last minute, after Muslim groups charged him with crimes against humanity for "his military role against the Palestinian people." David Irving comments: WELCOME though this news is -- that even Israeli generals can be prosecuted by the British for alleged war crimes -- this story does raise one or two important queries in my mind:    First, who tipped off Herr General and his ambassador that it would be, ahem, better if he did not descend the steps of the plane into the waiting arms and handcuffs of the no doubt hidden Scotland Yard officers?    Is it yet another case case of dual loyalties - some civil servant putting his concealed loyalty toward a foreign power above his debt of gratitude and loyalty toward the country which gave him, or his recent ancestors, shelter?    Second, can we now expect American and other generals to think twice before flying into Heathrow, in the light of revelations about their methods in Guantánamo and the Middle East? All of these things are directly linked, and also indirectly related to those explosions in London during July.    Third, passengers on a plane that has landed on British soil are not beyond the jurisdiction of our courts; why did the Scotland Yard officers not board the El Al Flight and take him off?    Whatever the background, here is another case of an Israeli accused of crimes including murder and terrorism scarpering back to the safe haven of Israel from which, as Adolf Hitler so rightly prophesied in Mein Kampf, it will prove impossible to extradite him.    The only consolation is that Israel does not top everybody's list of holiday destinations: it is hot, ugly, wracked by terror, and just teeming with Those Nice Folks Next Door. If other countries copy Britain's example, General Almog will be condemned to eke out the rest of his days right there, behind the self-inflicted walls of his people's new ghetto.    Once our own politicians are able to think straight, and can clean out the Augaean stables not only of their own disordered minds but also of their civil service, we may find that we are able to live in greater security and peace within our own fair shores. Israel's ambassador in London, Tzvi Hefetz, spoke with Almog during the flight, advised him not to get off the plane, and said if he entered Britain he would be served with the claim. Immediately upon landing in London, Almog returned to Israel. Ambassador Hefetz also reported the incident to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. Moving up the ranks From 1993-1995, Almog served as the IDF commander in the Gaza Strip, moving to head the Southern Command in 2000. More recently, he has been a strong opponent of the Gaza disengagement program, saying the pullout would signify a "huge victory for terrorism." "They'll say, 'we've won'," said Almog. "After all these years of fighting, we've won the land, and there's a lot we can do with it. Jews only understand power. "It could be a catalyst for more terror in Judea and Samaria as well," he said. Destroy refugee camps "If it was up to me," he said, "I would try to achieve a wide international coalition to destroy the refugee camps in Gaza and replace them with new neighborhoods. "We can transfer money, we can build, we can take steps to isolate those terror groups or work to lower their motivation. I believe that overall, absolutely not one-sided, with international elements, including the U.S., Europe and Egypt, I think it would be possible to isolate a large part of the terror infrastructure." London, Monday, September 12, 2005 Israeli evades arrest at Heathrow over army war crime allegations Retired general tipped off after judge issues warrant Ex-commander accused of demolishing Gaza homes Vikram Dodd and Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv SCOTLAND Yard was thwarted yesterday in its attempt to seize a former senior Israeli army officer at Heathrow airport for alleged war crimes in occupied Palestinian lands after a British judge had issued a warrant for his arrest. British detectives were waiting for retired Major General Doron Almog who was aboard an El Al flight which arrived from Israel yesterday. It is believed he was tipped off about his impending arrest while in the air and stayed on the plane to avoid capture until it flew back to Israel. Scotland Yard detectives were armed with a warrant naming Mr Almog as a war crimes suspect for offences that breached the Geneva conventions. The Guardian understands police would have arrested him if he had set foot on British soil. The arrest warrant was issued on Saturday at Bow Street magistrates court, central London. It is believed to be the first warrant for war crimes of its kind issued in Britain against an Israeli national over conduct in the conflict with Palestinians. Despite the alleged offences occurring in the Gaza Strip, war crimes law means Britain has a duty to arrest and prosecute alleged suspects if they arrive in Britain. The warrant alleges Mr Almog committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip in 2002 when he ordered the destruction of 59 homes near Rafah, which Palestinians say was in revenge for the death of Israeli soldiers. The warrant was issued by senior district judge Timothy Workman after an application by lawyers acting for Mr Almog's alleged Palestinian victims. According to legal sources, before granting the warrant Mr Workman decided his court had jurisdiction for the offences; that diplomatic immunity did not apply; and there was evidence to support a prima facie case for war crimes. If Mr Almog had been arrested he would have been bailed on condition that he did not leave Britain. The attorney general would have to have sanctioned any prosecution against him for war crimes. Mr Almog was commanding officer of the Israeli defence forces' southern command from December 2000 to July 2003. British lawyers representing Palestinians who say they suffered as a result of Mr Almog's orders had presented their evidence to Scotland Yard detectives last month and they began investigating him. Mr Almog was due to speak at an event at Solihull synagogue. Scotland Yard, the Foreign Office and the Israeli embassy in London all refused to officially comment. Mr Almog, who was back in Israel last night, said: "I have no comment to make at this time." Last night the Israeli foreign ministry, said: "In the past extremist Palestinian organisations have tried to manipulate legal processes in Europe for their own cynical ends. We have no faith in these groups but we have a lot of faith in the British legal system." © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005      More on those nice folks Daughter of Israeli ambassador to UK, Tzvei Hefetz, drug smuggler, freed from Peruvian jail after just 18 months - a heart-warming tale of drugs, influence, an Israeli ambassador's pending appointment, and a prison beauty pageant: "Hefetz was arrested after she tried to board a flight to Holland with more than 4 kilograms (10 pounds) of cocaine."

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