British police asked Tzipi Livni to appear for an interview regarding war crimes allegations while she was Israeli foreign minister in 2008-2009.
Advertisement
Ms Livni told Israeli Army Radio on Monday that the police request was non-mandatory but “unacceptable”.
In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said it viewed the request by the Metropolitan Police “with great concern”.
Ms Livni, 57, was to be questioned about suspected war crimes and violations of the Geneva conventions during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza between December 2008 and January 2009….
To guarantee herself diplomatic immunity she was forced to arrange official meetings, thus changing the status of the trip. Livni is now a member of the opposition Zionist Union faction in the Knesset.
Livni was in the United Kingdom to participate in a conference organised by Haaretz newspaper and the British Jewish community.
Speaking Sunday at the conference in London, Livni, who also served as justice minister and headed up peace talks with the Palestinians, said the situation could not continue.
Pro-Palestinian groups have previously tried to go after Livni and other Israeli officials using universal jurisdiction, a principle that lets British courts prosecute foreigners accused of crimes against humanity wherever they were committed. However, following diplomatic intervention, she was not required to report to police. “It’s not a personal issue”.
He said that in light of the recent terrorist attacks on Israelis near Hebron, “attempting to question MK Tzipi Livni makes a mockery of the British government’s calls for unity in fighting radical terror, and legitimises those that seek to murder children and terrorise society”. “It’s a moral issue and this is something that needs to be changed”.
Ms Livni informed the UK Israeli embassy and the Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Advertisement
To be noted, Israel launched three wars against Gaza in 2008-2009, 2012, and 2014.
