Israel condemns 'absurd' UK arrest warrant for Livni

Tzipi Livni was foreign minister during Israel's three-week offensive against Hamas in Gaza a year ago.

Two months ago, British lawyers working on behalf of 16 Palestinian clients petitioned a London court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak while he was on an official visit in London. The court ruled that Barak enjoyed immunity while on official state business.

Jerusalem (CNN) -- Israel's prime minister on Tuesday called a British court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli opposition leader and former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni "absurd."

"We will not accept a situation in which Ehud Olmert, (Defense Minister) Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni will be summoned to the dock," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement from his office.

Olmert was Israeli prime minister and Livni was foreign minister during Israel's three-week offensive against Hamas in Gaza a year ago.

"We will not accept that IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers and commanders that bravely and morally defended our citizens from a cruel enemy will be called war criminals. We reject this as absurd," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister directed National Security Adviser Uzi Arad to relay Israel's stance to the British ambassador in Israel.

"Arad spoke with the ambassador and made clear to him that the state of Israel expects that the government of Britain act against this immoral phenomenon that attempts to hamper Israel's right to defend herself," Netanyahu's statement said.

"This arrest warrant makes a mockery of universal jurisdiction," said Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, who was also the subject of a potential arrest warrant when he visited the United Kingdom last month. "There are those in the international community who are trying to single out Israel in its fight against terrorism."

Ayalon added: "I don't see how Israelis and other officials can continue to visit the UK if this troublesome situation continues."

"There could be a big diplomatic cost if Israeli leaders cannot visit London, and it will affect our relationship and will impact on the ability of the British government to contribute to the Middle East peace process, which is not something we would like to see."

Britain's Foreign Office said the United Kingdom was not trying to hamper the peace process.

"The UK is determined to do all it can to promote peace in the Middle East, and to be a strategic partner of Israel," the Foreign Office said in a statement. "To do this, Israel's leaders need to be able to come to the UK for talks with the British government. We are looking urgently at the implications of this case."

The arrest warranty was issued by the Westminster Magistrates Court, but it was not clear when.

A diplomatic source familiar with the case told CNN that Westminster Magistrates' Court in London issued the warrant "recently." The Crown Prosecution Service, however, told CNN it could not confirm or deny the existence of any arrest warrant.

Israel said the warrant was issued "at the behest of radical elements" and "anti-Israel elements."

Livni had been invited to participate in a conference in England but turned down the offer two weeks ago because of a scheduling conflict, according to her office.

The arrest warrant was revoked once it was clear Livni was not in Britain, BBC News reported.

The statement said further that Livni had no knowledge that a warrant would be issued when she declined the invitation.

This is not the first time an Israeli leader has been subject to possible arrest abroad for suspected war crimes.

Two months ago, British lawyers working on behalf of 16 Palestinian clients petitioned a London court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak while he was on an official visit in London. The court ruled that Barak enjoyed immunity while on official state business.