A/HRC/13/53 attacks in Gaza.22 Some confusion exists, as Ms. Livni’s office released a statement indicating that her trip was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict two weeks prior to her departure date.23 The issuance of this arrest warrant, although later withdrawn, has prompted efforts to amend British law as a matter of urgency to ensure that diplomatic contact with Israeli officials will not be threatened.24 20. It is important to remember that there have been other situations involving controversial foreign public figures in which concerns about their possible detention and arrest has arisen. The most famous British case involved the detention of the former Chilean head of State, Augusto Pinochet, in 1998 in response to a Spanish request for extradition to face torture and other criminal charges associated with his years as head of State in Chile. There have also been some recent problems faced by Israeli officials who were considering a visit to Britain. The Minister of Defence, Ehud Barak, was granted immunity from the legal process by the British Government while on a visit to London to deliver a speech.25 In October 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon, was apparently advised by the Israeli Government to cancel a speaking engagement in London because he might be arrested.26 III. Settlements in the Palestinian territories and their impact on the enjoyment of human rights A. Settlement freeze 21. On 25 November 2009, Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed a 10-month freeze on settlement growth in the West Bank, which was approved by Israel’s security cabinet by a vote of 11–1.27 Mr. Netanyahu described the initiative as following from the urging of “our friends” that once Israel takes “the first meaningful step” towards peace “the Arab world and the Palestinians will follow”.28 The Prime Minister described the freeze as “a policy of restraint regarding the settlements which will include a suspension of new permits and new construction in Judea and Samaria” reassuring the settlers with “a promise to enable a normal life to continue for three hundred thousand Israeli citizens, our brothers and sisters”.29 The announcement was viewed positively by the Government of the United 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 GE.10-10260 See also “UK ponders law change after Tzipi Livni arrest warrant”, BBC News, 15 December 2009, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8415161.stm. “British court issued Gaza arrest warrant for former Israeli minister Tzipi Livni”, The Guardian, 14 December 2009. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/14/tzipi-livni-israel-gazaarrest. “UK to review war crimes warrants after Tzipi Livni arrest row”, The Guardian, 15 December 2009, available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/15/israel-tzipi-livni-arrest-warrant. “Israeli minister Ehud Barak faces war crimes arrest threat during UK visit”, The Guardian, 29 September 2009. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/29/ehud-barak-war-crimesisrael. “General Moshe Yaalon cancels London trip after arrest fear over Gaza bombing”, The Times, 6 October 2009. Available at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6862322.ece. Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, “Statement by PM Netanyahu on the Cabinet Decision to Suspend New Construction in Judea and Samaria”, available at http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/ Communication/EventsDiary/eventfreeze251109.htm. “Mideast: settlements ‘moratorium’ still short of freeze”, IPS News, 25 November 2009, available at http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49421. Geoffrey Aronson, “Netanyahu pledges to restrain settlement expansion – does it matter?”, Foundation for Middle East Peace, vol. 19, No. 6 (November–December 2009), available at 9