UK refuses to grant immunity to ex-Israeli defence minister

The British government has refused an Israeli request to grant immunity from arrest to former Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, who arrived in London Saturday night for a conference this week, Haaretz quoted Israeli senior officials as saying.

The Israeli embassy in London is not aware of any pending arrest warrant against Mofaz, but the fact that British authorities did not grant him immunity has made this visit a sensitive, riskier one.

However, Mofaz landed in London on Saturday, and faced no problems on arrival.

Mofaz served as the Israeli army's chief of staff during the Second Intifada, commanding the army during Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank. Shortly after he retired from the army in 2002 he was appointed as defense minister by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.