Ashkenazi flies secretly to France and Yaalon calls off visit to Britain in fear of arrest

Source: Hizbollah Site Staff, 05-10-2009

"Israeli" occupation Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi flew secretly to France on Sunday for meetings with Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin, the chief of the French Defense Staff.

Ashkenazi left "Israel" early on Sunday morning and flew to Normandy, where he met with Mullen. The two have developed a close relationship since Ashkenazi was appointed chief of General Staff in 2007 and they reportedly speak at least once a week by phone.

Ashkenazi's trip to France came amid continued warnings that senior "Israeli" military officers could be arrested in Europe for their involvement in "Operation Cast Lead" in the Gaza Strip in December 2008 and January 2009.

The meeting in Normandy focused on assessments regarding Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and the joint "Israeli"-US Juniper Cobra missile defense exercise that is scheduled to start later this month.

The exercise will include the "Israeli" Arrow missile defense system as well as three American systems that will all be deployed in "Israel" for the duration of the exercise.

On the same note, former "Israeli" military chief of staff Moshe Yaalon has called off a visit to Britain because of concerns he could be arrested on suspicion of committing war crimes.

He says legal advisers warned of possible charges over his involvement in the 2002 assassination of a Hamas militant leader that killed 14 other people, including nine children.

Last week, activists tried to have "Israeli" defense chief Ehud Barak arrested for alleged war crimes during a visit to Britain but the case filed against him was rejected.