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Israel

Israel vice premier cancels UK trip after arrest fears

October 5, 2009 13:40
Moshe Ya'alon

ByJessica Elgot, Jessica Elgot

1 min read

Israel’s vice-premier, Moshe "Boogie" Ya'alon has cancelled a trip to London to speak at a JNF charity dinner over fears he may face arrest for war crimes.

Former IDF chief-of-staff Mr Ya’alon said the trip was “cancelled to avoid playing into the hands of anti-Israel propaganda” after the attempted arrest of Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak when he visited the UK last week.

He is believed to have sought legal advice before accepting the invitation to speak at the JNF event on behalf of Benji's Home, a charity for Israeli soldiers with no family in the country.

Legal advisers are said to have been concerned about possible charges connected to the 2002 assassination of a Hamas leader. Fourteen other people were killed in this operation.