Scotland Yard was urged on Monday to launch a criminal investigation into officials at the Israeli embassy in London who helped a retired Israeli general wanted in Britain for war crimes to escape arrest.
Doron Almog arrived on Sunday at London-Heathrow for a private visit to the UK. Unknown to him, a British court had issued a warrant for his arrest for war crimes on Saturday and detectives were waiting at the airport.
Almog told the Guardian on Monday that, as he prepared to leave the plane, he was advised to wait by the cabin crew. Israel's military attache in London then arrived on the plane to inform him that he faced arrest. Almog stayed on the El Al plane until it flew back to Israel.
The 53-year-old former general told the Guardian: "I don't know how he [the military attache] found out but I am glad he did. It was also fortunate that I was flying with El Al as they are loyal. I don't know what would have happened if I had been on a British Airways flight."
The war-crimes arrest warrant was issued over allegations that Almog ordered the destruction of 59 civilian homes in Gaza in breach of the Geneva Conventions.
A lawyer representing the alleged Palestinian victims demanded on Monday that police investigate the actions of Israeli diplomats in aiding Almog's hasty departure.
Daniel Machover said Israeli officials had been involved in "calculated interference" in thwarting British justice: "There needs to be a criminal investigation of the actions taken by Israeli embassy staff ... They are not located here to assist Israelis to evade British justice."
Machover also called for an inquiry into how the information was leaked to the Israeli embassy and how the Israeli diplomat got through security at Heathrow to board the plane and warn Almog.
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