Dutch lawyers seek arrest of Minister Ami Ayalon

Lawyers for a Palestinian man who claims he was tortured in an Israeli jail say they want Dutch prosecutors to investigate and issue an arrest warrant for Minister-without-Portfolio Ami Ayalon. The lawyers are appealing Dutch prosecutors' decision not to investigate Ayalon when he was visiting the Netherlands in May. Ayalon is the former head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Service). Khalid al-Shami alleges he was tortured while being held for 50 days in an Israeli jail early in 2000. Palestinian human rights lawyer Raji Sourani said Tuesday Ayalon bears responsibility for the alleged torture because he was head of Shin Bet at the time. Ayalon said in a response he was "proud of everything I have done" in the war on terror.