Israel halts strategic talks with Britain

Israel has postponed all strategic dialogue with Britain in protest of a law that allows British courts to prosecute visiting Israeli officials for alleged war crimes, officials said Wednesday.

"The strategic dialogue has indeed been postponed," Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP shortly after British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrived for a two-day visit.

"The visit by Hague is an important phase in the ongoing exchange between the countries, and the question of Israeli officials being unable to travel to Britain will be on the top of the agenda," he said.

The law in question gives British courts "universal jurisdiction" to issue warrants against individuals accused of war crimes, including visiting foreign politicians.

AFP