THE Labour Government secretly met with the Israel Defence Force (IDF) chief of staff just days after an international arrest warrant was issued for Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli prime minister was accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on November 21. He faces arrest if he sets foot in countries signed up to the court’s authority – including the UK.
Haaretz, Israel’s paper of record, reported earlier in the year on speculation that other Israeli figures, including IDF chief Herzl Halevi, could also be issued with arrest warrants.
Now, in answer to a question from the SNP’s Chris Law, the Labour Government has admitted that Halevi visited the UK and they gave him diplomatic immunity through a “Special Mission Immunity certificate”.
In his role at the head of the IDF, Halevi oversaw the drone strike in Gaza in April which killed three British aid workers. He later called it a “grave mistake”.
In response to a second question from Green peer Natalie Bennett, Labour lord and minister Vernon Coaker said that Halevi’s visit had taken place on November 25, just four days after the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
Coaker further said the IDF leader had met with the UK chief of defence staff, deputy chief of defence staff, and the Foreign Office’s Middle East director.
Halevi then had a separate meeting with Attorney General Richard Hermer, the UK Government’s chief law officer.
The revelation that Labour hosted and granted immunity to the IDF leader was branded "breathtaking" and "astounding" by Law, the SNP’s international trade spokesperson.
He called for Foreign Secretary David Lammy to explain "the appalling timing of this decision, and the purpose of these ‘Special Mission Immunity certificates’, particularly as they have been issued exclusively to Israeli officials this year”.
The only other immunity certificate issued so far in 2024 was for Israeli minister Benny Gantz, who visited then foreign secretary David Cameron in March.
Law said: "This behaviour suggests that the UK Government has no interest in seeking justice for victims of alleged war crimes, and is instead focused on protecting its Israeli allies from facing any accountability.”
"For as long as states such as the UK continue to use these measures to protect those accused of breaches of international law, it will erode trust in itself as a legitimate partner in the international community, and will undermine international humanitarian law it claims to support,” he added.
The UK Government has been asked for comment.
