'UK to change arrest warrant law'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
LAST UPDATED: 07/22/2010 13:51
Universal jurisdiction amendment would prevent warrants for Israelis.
Kadima head Tzipi Livni. Photo: AP
The British coalition government
will work towards changing the law on universal jurisdiction for war
crimes "at the first opportunity," UK
Justice
Secretary Ken Clarke announced Thursday.
The UK
government will table a
legislative amendment which will require the Director of
Public Prosecutions to approve all private prosecution for war crimes, Clarke said. Only after such approval will an arrest warrant be issued under the proposed legislation.
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Such
a change would possibly prevent incidents such as Palestinians in Gaza
successfully applying for an arrest warrant for opposition
leader Tzipi Livni because of her involvement in authorizing Operation
Cast Lead.
The Jewish Chronicle reported
that the legislative change would be introduced in September.