The British coalition government will work towards changing the law on universal jurisdiction for war crimes "at the first opportunity," UK Justice Secretary Ken Clarke announced Thursday.
The UK government will table a legislative amendment which will require the Director of Public Prosecutions to approve all private prosecution for war crimes, Clarke said. Only after such approval will an arrest warrant be issued under the proposed legislation.
Such a change would possibly prevent incidents such as Palestinians in Gaza successfully applying for an arrest warrant for opposition leader Tzipi Livni because of her involvement in authorizing Operation Cast Lead.
The Jewish Chronicle reported that the legislative change would be introduced in September.