As opposition to the arrival of Israeli president Isaac Herzog in Australia intensifies \u2013 with mass protests planned and some Labor MPs condemning his invitation \u2013 a coalition of Australian and Palestinian legal groups has asked the Australian federal police to investigate and arrest one of his travelling party over historical war crimes allegations.<\/p>\n
Doron Almog, a retired Israel Defense Forces major general who is expected to travel with the president in his capacity as chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel, has formerly faced arrest warrants over allegations he committed war crimes in Gaza<\/a> in 2002.<\/p>\n Almog denies the allegations.<\/p>\n A decorated former officer in the Israel Defense Forces, and recipient of the nation\u2019s highest honour, the Israel prize, Almog narrowly escaped arrest at London\u2019s Heathrow airport in 2005 when he refused to leave an El Al plane on the tarmac after he was tipped off that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.<\/p>\n A London court issued the warrant for Almog\u2019s arrest over allegations he committed a war crime in ordering the destruction of more than 50 Palestinian homes during operations in 2002 in Gaza. The warrant was issued after an application by British lawyers acting for Palestinian victims of the demolition.<\/p>\n Almog has also been implicated<\/a> in the al-Daraj bombing in 2002<\/a>, when a one-tonne bomb was dropped on a densely populated neighbourhood. The strike was targeting Hamas leader Salah Shehadeh, but also killed 14 others, mostly babies and children.<\/p>\n The UK warrant has since been withdrawn and Almog has consistently denied the allegations.<\/p>\n Almog is chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, which encourages the immigration of Jews in the global diaspora to Israel, a practice known as Aliyah.<\/p>\n Three legal organisations \u2013 the Australian Centre for International Justice, Al Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights , and the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights \u2013 have lodged a submission with the AFP, requesting that Almog be investigated over allegations arising from his time as Commanding Officer of the Israeli military\u2019s Southern Command between 2000 to 2003.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder his command, the Israeli military was responsible for countless and extensive human rights violations and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions inside the illegally occupied Gaza Strip,\u201d the submission alleges.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder Australian law<\/a>, grave breaches are serious criminal offences and Australia is obligated to search for, arrest and prosecute those alleged to have perpetrated them.\u201d<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n The legal groups also insist Almog should be investigated for his actions as chair of the Jewish Agency, alleging \u201cAlmog participated in the authorisation, organisation or direction of the transfer of Israeli civilian population into the occupied West Bank, being territory illegally occupied by Israel\u201d.<\/p>\n The AFP has referred the Almog submission to its Special Investigations Command.<\/p>\n Rawan Arraf, the ACIJ\u2019s executive director, said Almog should not be allowed to enter Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cBut given it is likely he will be allowed to enter the country, he must be arrested. He must answer to the credible allegations made against him. This impunity that Israel and its leaders enjoy, must end.<\/p>\n Almog has not been involved in the current Gaza conflict. He has been a prominent, but controversial figure, for decades. He was awarded the Israel prize in 2016 for his military service and his charity work, particularly as the founder of rehabilitation village for children with disabilities.<\/p>\n In September 2005, Almog flew into London\u2019s Heathrow<\/a> airport for a series of fundraising and charitable events across the UK.<\/p>\n Ahead of his arrival, in the Bow Street magistrate court, a private prosecution was brought before the senior district judge Timothy Workman, who issued a warrant for Almog\u2019s arrest over war crimes allegations. The warrant alleged Almog committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip in 2002 when he ordered the destruction of 59 homes near Rafah.<\/p>\n Detectives were waiting at the immigration desk to arrest Almog.<\/p>\n But the police plans were leaked to the military attache<\/a> of the Israeli embassy, who boarded the plane as Almog prepared to disembark, telling him he faced arrest.<\/p>\n Almog stayed on the plane for two hours<\/a> as it sat on the tarmac, before it flew back to Israel. He told the Guardian the next day: \u201cI don\u2019t 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<\/a> as they are loyal. I don\u2019t know what would have happened if I had been on a British Airways flight.\u201d<\/p>\n He also said the allegations against him were without merit.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a soldier and a general<\/a> I have never committed a crime. Many times I have saved Palestinian lives by risking my life and the lives of my soldiers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Israeli president Isaac Herzog at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. Photograph: Denis Balibouse\/Reuters<\/p>\n Herzog, as president and head of state of Israel, was invited to Australia by the federal government after the antisemitic massacre in Bondi in December, when 15 people were killed by two allegedly Islamic State-inspired gunmen.<\/p>\n The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said Herzog\u2019s visit was intended to foster \u201ca greater sense of unity\u201d.<\/p>\n But members of his own party have said they are \u201cvery uncomfortable\u201d about the invitation. The former Labor minister Ed Husic said: \u201cIt\u2019s really hard for me to reconcile the vision of him [Herzog] signing bombs that went on to be dropped on Palestinian homes \u2026 with the notion of social cohesion. So from that perspective, I\u2019ve obviously got deep concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n