Olmert cancels travel abroad for fear of being arrested for war crimes
Translated from ynet, article published on 24.7.19 at 21:41
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Justice, the former prime minister canceled a business trip to Switzerland for fear that he would be arrested upon his landing in Zurich, for questioning regarding war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was forced to cancel a business trip to Switzerland, according to guidance given by the Justice Ministry and due to a warning that he may be arrested for questioning over war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead.
Since he is a protected personality by the "Magen" unit - the personal security unit of the Prime Minister’s Office - the latter contacted the authorities in Switzerland to coordinate his security arrangements.
But then, surprisingly, the Swiss authorities who apparently feared embarrassment, turned at their own initiative to the Israeli Justice Ministry and announced that if the former prime minister landed in Zurich, they would summon him for questioning and he may be arrested.
Amnon Abramovich reported on Wednesday that Olmert had insisted on traveling as usual, but following consultations between the Justice Ministry and the Foreign Ministry it was decided to forbid him from traveling, and he remained in Israel.
Roy Schondorf, the deputy attorney general for international law and the person who is responsible for the legal struggle against the State of Israel abroad, was assigned the role of heading an inter-ministerial body which is tasked with preventing the arrest of Israeli officials and officers due to complaints of war crimes.
A similar complaint regarding war crimes has been filed in Switzerland in the past, against former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, by activists of a pro-Palestinian organization called "Palestine Organization" in Geneva.
However, this complaint did not prevent Livni from continuing to visit in Switzerland and she has also took part in the Davos forum this year.
Watch this disruption of war criminal Olmert in Chicago, 2009:
