Ya’alon still in New Zealand, despite arrest warrant for war crimes
Despite reports to the contrary, former Israel Defence Forces chief of staff Lieutenant General (res.) Moshe Ya’alon remained in New Zealand after a warrant was issued for his arrest for alleged war crimes, he said Friday. The charges have since been dropped.
“I am continuing to travel in New Zealand,” Ya’alon told Army Radio on Friday. “I did not run away from anywhere and I don’t intend to run away.”
The New Zealand Justice Ministry issued the warrant on Tuesday, several days after a request by a New Zealand resident that was co-signed by various local and international human rights organizations. Officials at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said they had received confirmation from the embassy in New Zealand that the charges have been dropped.
- The warrant names Ya’alon for ordering an Israel Air Force attack on the home of senior Hamas official Salah Shehada in the Gaza Strip in 2002. Shahada, the founder of Hamas’ military wing, and one of his aides were killed in the attack along with 13 civilians.
- Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and Major General (res.) Doron Almog have evaded similar charges in Britain over the past two years.
Diplomatic ties between Israel and New Zealand have been rocky in recent years.
- In 2004, two members of Israel’s Mossad espionage agency were imprisoned in the country for illegally trying to obtain New Zealand passports.
Moshe Ya’alon (Lior Mizrahi / BauBau)
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
02/12/2006
