Israeli Army Chief Visited Britain This Week, UK Confirms
Thu 10:57 am +00:00, 28 Nov 2024 6
By John McEvoy and Mark Curtis / Declassified UK
Israel’s top soldier, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, visited Britain earlier this week, the UK government has confirmed to Declassified.
The visit came three days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for “crimes against humanity and war crimes”.
Those include “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”, as well as “intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population”.
Halevi was initially reported to have been included in the ICC’s arrest applications for the crime of having “deliberately starved Palestinians in Gaza”. He was also forced to apologise in April after the Israeli military killed seven international aid workers including three Britons in Gaza.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Declassified: “As part of the concerted UK effort, along with allies and partners, to reach a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza, the Chief of the Defence Staff hosted his counterparts from Israel and other European partners”.
The spokesperson added: “Discussions included the UK calls for an immediate ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza and the need for all parties to comply with international humanitarian law while recognising Israel’s right to security”.
A ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was announced on Tuesday.
Special diplomatic immunity
It is unlikely that Halevi would have agreed to travel to Britain without being granted Special Mission immunity by the UK government.
The Ministry of Defence did not answer Declassified’s question about whether Halevi was provided such immunity on this occasion.
Following Israeli pressure, David Cameron’s coalition government changed the law in 2011 to help Israeli officials to visit Britain without fear of arrest.
The UK government has since granted “special mission” immunity to at least seven Israeli officials who have been accused of serious violations of international law.
Those officials have included Netanyahu in 2015 and former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni 2014, 2015, and 2016.
As Israel’s chief of military intelligence, Halevi was also granted special mission immunity to visit Britain in 2015.
The UK government has continued to provide these certificates amid the genocide in Gaza, with former Israeli war minister Benny Gantz receiving immunity to visit Britain in March 2024.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported in August that “random Palestinians have been used by Israeli army units in the Gaza Strip for one purpose: to serve as human shields for soldiers during operations.”
It quoted sources saying that Halevi was “among the senior officers aware of the use of Gazans as human shields.”
John McEvoy
John McEvoy is an independent journalist who has written for International History Review, The Canary, Tribune Magazine, Jacobin and Brasil Wire.
England a colony of Israel. Independence with The English Democrats.
“England a colony of Israel.” If only the world truly knew.
The world. A colony of Israel I would suggest.
With Farage being so close to Trump, and Trump wanting to negotiate peace in Ukraine, you might think Farage would be opening up on negotiations with Russia. Yet with Trump keeping schtum on Ukraine while Biden completes his term by trying to ignite a nuclear war, maybe Farage is also under clear instructions to keep his mouth shut as well. This makes Robin Tilbrook the vanguard of the political peace-seeking movement. If Farage doesn’t shift and start talking of negotiating with Russia, Reform’s otherwise tax-based push for popularity might be overtaken by a peace-based push from smaller ‘far right = peaceful’ parties. At least you would still be alive, and in addition The Teds can match the promises of Reform to rebuild the Enterprise Economy.
They all answer to the same hidden masters Tap. It’s getting boringly predictable now.
I 100% agree John.