Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/687468.html
IDF Officer Cancels Studies in UK Due to Possible Legal Proceedings
(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - The commander of the Israel Defense Forces division along the Gaza border, Brig.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, was forced to cancel a planned stay at the Royal College of Defense Studies in the UK this summer after concerns were raised that he could be arrested on charges of war crimes. In 2002, he was a senior commander of the paratroopers in Jenin where 52 Palestinians and 23 IDF soldiers were killed. Military Advocate General Brig.-Gen. Avichai Mendelblit instructed Kochavi to abandon his plans in light of an arrest warrant issued six months ago in the UK for another Israeli officer. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Sunday that Kochavi and other IDF officers operating in the field have full backing from the state. Mofaz called on states themselves suffering from terrorism at home to close the legal loophole and prevent legal steps from being taken against military officers who act legally as part of the ongoing war on terrorism.