Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter was advised by the Israeli foreign ministry to turn down an invitation to visit Great Britain over fears that an “extreme leftist” group would file a legal complaint, which would result in him being arrested on war crimes charges. The charges are in response to Dichter planning the 2002 extrajudicial killing of Hamas military commander Saleh Shehadah, which resulted in the bombing deaths of at least 13 civilians in occupied Gaza. Apparently, bringing murderers to justice is an “extreme leftist” position.

Dichter was planning to visit Britain to speak at a seminar in King’s College London. Other senior Israeli officials have also feared being charged for war crimes when visiting Britain, but Dichter is the first to actually cancel a trip specifically for such a reason. Shehadah’s wife and three children were among the innocent lives Dichter ended in his illegal bombing.

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