Former Israeli official cancels Spain visit fearing arrest

NAZARETH, — Former chief of the Israeli internal security apparatus the Shabak Avi Dichter has called off a visit to Spain fearing arrest on the background of a case charging him and other Israeli officials of committing war crimes against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Yediot Ahronot reported on Tuesday that Dichter, an MK for Kadima party, was forced to cancel his visit to Madrid after the Spanish foreign ministry informed him that it would not be able to protect him from arrest.

The paper said that Dichter was invited to attend a conference for a coalition of peace organizations to consult on the Arab peace initiative, adding that he asked for guarantees from the Spanish authorities that he would not be detained but Madrid did not provide any.