Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and seven other
former and current government officials are at risk of arrest if they
set foot in Spain, after a Spanish judge effectively issued an arrest
warrant for the group, it has been reported.
According to the Latin American Herald Tribune,
Spanish national court judge Jose de la Mata ordered the police and
civil guard to notify him if Mr Netanyahu and the six other individuals
enter the country, as their actions could see a case against them
regarding the Freedom Flotilla attack of 2010 reopened.
Palestinians
wave their national flag as they ride boats during a rally in support
of activists aboard a Pro-Gaza flotilla made up of four boats aimed at
defying Israel's blockade of Gaza, at the seaport of Gaza City
The other men named in the issue are former defence minister Ehud
Barak, former foreign minister Avigdor Leiberman, former minister of
strategic affairs Moshe Yaalon, former interior minister Eli Yishai,
minister without portfolio Benny Begin and vice admiral maron Eliezer,
who was in charge of the operation.
The case – which was put on hold by Judge de la Mata last year – was
brought against the men following an attack by Israeli security forces
against the Freedom Flotilla aid ships in 2010, which was trying to
reach Gaza. It concerns the Mavi Marmara ship,
the main civilian vessel in a fleet of six that were attempting to
break an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The six ships were carrying
around 500 passengers, humanitarian aid and construction materials. The
Israeli Defence Force stormed the ship in a raid that left nine human
rights activists dead. A tenth activist died later that month due to
wounds sustained in the raid.
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Palestinian shot dead in Gaza
The Israeli Prime Minister and other officials now face charges in the case, should it be reopened.
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nachshon told the Jerusalem Post:
“We consider it to be a provocation. We are working with the Spanish
authorities to get it cancelled. We hope it will be over soon.”
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