South Africa this week issued arrest warrants for several top Israeli defense and intelligence officials.
Indicted in South African courts for “crimes against humanity” relating to Israel's defense against the 2010 Mavi Marmara Gaza flotilla - in which Hamas supporters brutally attacked IDF soldiers - were Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Israel Navy Commander Eliezer Marom, Army Intelligence head Amos Yadlin, and top Israel Air Force commander Avishai Levi.
According to the warrants, the four were the leaders of the Israeli “massacre” of ten Hamas supporters, as well as the masterminds of Israel's “oppression” of the Palestinian Arabs.
The warrants do not have legal status outside South Africa. Nevertheless, if one of those being sought travel to that country – or even just pass through on their way somewhere else – they could be arrested and put on trial.
Other countries, notably the UK, have indicted other Israeli officers and leaders, but so far no Israelis have been arrested and put on trial in another country based on these warrants. Although the events described in the indictment had nothing to do with South Africa the courts there, as elsewhere, especially in Europe, have taken on responsibility for issuing indicments on “war crimes” committed anywhere in the world.
It is not known if South Africa has issued similar warrants for leaders of Islamic State (ISIS), Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terror groups that have committed acts of terror.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has ordered the Foreign Ministry to “act decisively” and fight the warrants, and Israel's embassy in South Africa is working to cancel the arrest orders.
“The provocative and ugly attempts to use the South African legal system for a political agenda is unacceptable,” said Netanyahu.