Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon arrived in England on Monday after receiving assurances that he would not be placed under arrest.

During his visit, the deputy minister will meet with state officials towards advancing efforts to eliminate the concern of being arrested for alleged war crimes when visiting. The UK has pledged to amend the law to avoid such an embarrassing situation as has been the case since Operation Cast Lead, and preceding it in the case of certain senior military officers.

While Ayalon delivered an address to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an anti-Israel protest was held outside. The deputy minister addressed the recent escalation of tensions between Israel, Syria and Lebanon as a result of a volley of exchanges of high-level diplomatic statements, seeking to lower the diplomatic flames in that arena.

Regarding Iran, he stated the country is basically weak, adding it cannot prevent the international community from imposing stern sanctions. He warned that there are more nuclear facilities than those discussed, further explaining the increased tensions regarding Israel and Syria serves Iran’s agenda, shifting world attention from the nuclear issue. Ayalon feels that once the Iranian issue is under control, Syria will also be more amenable to dialogue with Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)