THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Israel abruptly announced the suspension of a high-profile security meeting with Britain in a move that appeared calculated to embarrass William Hague on his first official visit to the country.
The Israeli government caught British officials off-guard by declaring the next session of the annual “UK-Israel Strategic Dialogue” would be suspended until its ministers could travel to Britain without fear of arrest.
Israel has long been dismayed that pro-Palestinian activists in Britain have been able to use a loophole in extradition law to bring private prosecutions against visiting Israeli officials. The issue has strained relations between the two states with the Strategic Dialogue, which brings together senior officials from both states to discuss key issues such as security, terrorism and Iran, has falled vicitme [sic] to the tension.
British officials insisted that the Dialogue - established just two years - was not hostage to legislative changes to curb Universal Jurisdiction provisions. Until yesterday, the Foreign Office had been led to believe delays to the next session of the Strategic Dialogue, which should have been held last month, were because of Israeli scheduling problems.
But the timing of the Israeli announcement also suggested an attempt by hardline elements in the office of Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s hawkish foreign minister, to ambush Mr Hague.
The news was leaked by the foreign ministry before Mr Hague had met with Israeli leaders.
Compounding the Foreign Secretary’s discomfort, those behind the leak claimed that the decision had been taken because Britain had “done nothing” to address legal issues.
The move appeared to be part of an emerging strategy by Mr Lieberman and his aides to humiliate visiting European ministers. >>> Adrian Blomfield in Ramallah | Wednesday, November 03, 2010
