This idea, implied in Clarks statemen and in several comments, that attempts to prosecute the likes of Livni etc are somehow frivilous or politically motivited is patently false. The UN investiagation into the Gaza operation Caste lead is very clear. There is a case to answer. According to Goldstone Israel committed gross breaches of international law including crimes against humanity and war crimes. This is not opinion, this is the judgement of respected jurist with the full support of the UN.

Goldstone condemns Israel for deliberate targetting of civilians and deliberate targetting of civilian infrastructure including schools, hospitals, houses, police stations, a prison and UN facilities. 10.000 homes destroyed. 1500 killed. 400 children dead.Torture, use of civilians for human shields, arbitrary executions and use of live fire, including chemical weapons, on civilians.

And thanks to the British government they can visit the uk safe in the knowledge that they will not be held accountable for these crimes?

It is shameful that thanks to the the likes of Clarke the serious and damning charges laid out by Goldstone will not be investigated in the one place that justice demands they should be, in a court of law.

The message of the British Government to the human rights abusers of the world is clear. Commit grave human breaches of international law and as long as you remain on friendly terms with the United kingdom you will be protected. How long will we, the British public allow this shameful and criminal travesty of justice continue?

There is lots of evidence to support the fact that britain and the usa have waged war on afghanistan illegally, even if I believed that saddam needed to be stopped, it sounds as if they have used some pretty horrible weapons which have caused deformities so I'll say this having had to try to repost this message after it was blocked by someone who would like it to remain unseen, mind your own business ken, deal with the problems in britian, because it's the same british army you need to deal with, the same rotten legal system in britain, and the same ongoing wars. Bearing in mind they are who have been balancing the books worldwide, deciding to protect Martin McGuiness and Ewan Magregor in this country, perhaps encouraging them to protect the next versions of Pinochet is a bad idea. Feel free to step on that plane and visit. Don't expect the british people to continue supporting terrorism. They need a break!

Makes sense. We can't have every Tom Dick and Tatchell trying to apprehend ex-PMs and Presidents. So Thatcher Blair Bush and Mugabe can sleep a little easier in their beds.

Well that just great that Israeli war criminals can take a break from burning women and children alive with phosphorous shells and planning the next land theft, to come to the UK.

Can't people read what Ken Clarke actually said? All he said was that people would "require the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions before an arrest warrant can be issued" in the case of private prosecutions.

That's not really a radical step at all. Putting the ability to issue an arrest warrant in the hands of the guy who ultimately decides whether to prosecute on behalf of the state isn't bonkers.

On a separate point, it's quite amazing that NS thinks it's OK to call Henry Kissinger, Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni "suspected war criminals" without even explaining what they are suspected of. Or linking to a page or other resource which details evidence of their crimes.

And before some muppet says "read the goldstone report, n00b, that explainz everything! lolz!1!", I have read the Goldstone report and it doesn't prove anything of the sort.

@yoctobarryc.
Is this the same DPP who has just pronounced on the Ian Tomlinson case?
That will give alleged war criminals something to worry about.