LONDON (EJP)---The former chief of Israel’s military intelligence Amos Yadlin was briefly detained by British immigration officers at London’s Heathrow airport earlier this week, the Israeli media reported.
The incident occurred when Yadlin landed in the British capital as part of a delegation from the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at Israel’s Tel Aviv University, where he is currently the director. He was held along with former Israel Defense Forces chiefs of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Dan Halutz, former minister Gideon Saar and former head of Israel’s National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror.
Although Yadlin was quickly allowed to enter the country, the reasons for the initial hold-up are still unclear.
“We were part of a INSS delegation for dialogue in the U.K,'' Yadlin told Channel 2 television.
“Everyone passed through passport control, but they delayed me for ten minutes. They probably had something on their computer they wanted to check,” he said.
Yadlin added that the British officials “did not say or explain anything, and after ten minutes they sent me on my way.” He said he was “detained for a few minutes, asked a few questions, but went on as usual.”
Yadlin has had a long and storied career in Israel’s political and defense establishment. He holds the rank of Major General in the Israeli Air Force, was formerly the IDF’s military attache to Washington, D.C., and has served as the head of IDF Military Intelligence (AMAN).
He was the Zionist Union's candidate to be Defense Minister during the last election
Last month, the British government refused an Israeli request to grant immunity from arrest to former Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, who arrived in London. However, Mofaz faced no problems upon his arrival.
According to Channel 2, the measures may well be related to war crimes charges filed against Israelis in international tribunals and the International Criminal Court.
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