Livni to travel to London

For first time since Britain issued warrant for her arrest for alleged war crimes during Operation Cast Lead, opposition chairwoman to visit UK

Moran Azulay

Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni announced that she will travel to London next week, her first trip to the United Kingdom since it issued a warrant for her arrest in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague called Livni last week, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, and invited her to visit the UK. On Sunday, she said that she has accepted the invitation.

The news came two weeks after British legislators amended the law that allowed arrest warrants to be issued against Israeli officials, making Livni's trip possible.

British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould announced the alteration to the law last month, saying that it "will ensure that people cannot be detained when there is no realistic chance of prosecution." He broke the news to Livni in a phone call, reportedly telling her that "London is waiting."


in full: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4130070,00.html