Britain reportedly has given Israel an ultimatum for prosecuting an army officer accused of killing a British journalist in the Gaza Strip.
The Foreign Office in London last week reissued a demand for Israel to try Capt. Hib al-Heib, whose unit was patrolling the town of Rafah when James Miller, a documentary filmmaker, was shot dead there in 2003. Footage from the scene suggested Israeli troops shot Miller, but Israel’s Judge Advocate-General closed the case citing lack of evidence.
The U.K. Times reported over the weekend that the Foreign Office gave Israel until Tuesday to comply with its demand for a trial and threatened to prosecute Heib in a British court if necessary. Israel’s daily Ha’aretz reported that the British authorities want Heib extradited for trial if Israel does not reopen the case.
Israel’s Justice Ministry declined comment on the British demands, saying only that London had contested the decision to close the case and that Israel is weighing its response.
