Daniel Machover
Encyclopedia
Daniel Machover is the head of civil litigation for Hickman & Rose Solicitors in London and was the co-founder of Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights in 1988. His father, Professor Moshé Machover
, was one of the founders of the Israeli socialist group Matzpen
.
According to an interview in The Independent
, "Close observations of his parents' treatment at the hands of the Israeli authorities - including the strip-searching of his mother - heightened Machover's awareness of the potential for those in uniform to abuse their powers".
Machover's work with prisoners alleging brutality at Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London led to an official Prison Service report, which found that "more than 160 prison officers were involved in inflicting and covering up a regime of torture which saw savage beatings, death threats and sexual assault inflicted on inmates".
Machover is representing the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, an independent group based in Gaza City . He gained international attention when the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
attempted to have the Israeli General Doron Almog
arrested in London, but failed due to the British authorities having recommended to Almog that he not enter Britain. Machover stated that his firm is gathering evidence all the time and would not hesitate to file charges against other Israeli officers: "Doron Almog is only one of these individuals. [...] This is an issue about justice and about the proper application of criminal law."
Subsequent attempts by Machover to arrest Israeli politicians and soldiers on war-crimes charges have been thwarted by the British government, the most recent being an attempt to issue an arrest warrant for former Israel foreign minister and current leader of the opposition, Tzipi Livni
. The United Nations Human Rights Council
Goldstone Report accused Israel of war crimes against the civilian population of Gaza, during its 2008-9 assault on the Gaza Strip. As Israeli Foreign Minister at the time, Tzipi Livni would be personally guilty of war crimes, were the war crimes charge to be upheld by a British court.
The British government apologized to Israel, and offered to alter British law, requiring in the future the approval of the attorney general before arrest warrants can be issued under the laws of 'international jurisdiction'.
Moshé Machover
Moshé Machover is a mathematician, philosopher, and socialist activist, noted for his writings against Zionism. Born to a Jewish family in Tel Aviv, then part of the British Mandate of Palestine, Machover moved to Britain in 1968 where he became a naturalised citizen...
, was one of the founders of the Israeli socialist group Matzpen
Matzpen
Matzpen is the name of an anti-capitalist and anti-Zionist organisation, founded in Israel in 1962 which was active until the 1980s. Its official name was the Israeli Socialist Organisation, but it became better known as Matzpen after its monthly publication....
.
According to an interview in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, "Close observations of his parents' treatment at the hands of the Israeli authorities - including the strip-searching of his mother - heightened Machover's awareness of the potential for those in uniform to abuse their powers".
Machover's work with prisoners alleging brutality at Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London led to an official Prison Service report, which found that "more than 160 prison officers were involved in inflicting and covering up a regime of torture which saw savage beatings, death threats and sexual assault inflicted on inmates".
Machover is representing the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, an independent group based in Gaza City . He gained international attention when the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights is an independent Palestinian human rights organization based in Gaza City, founded and directed by Raji Sourani...
attempted to have the Israeli General Doron Almog
Doron Almog
Doron Almog is a Major General in the Israel Defense Forces reserves.-Background:Almog is also the father of a son with severe autism and mental retardation. His autistic son Eran died at age 23 in 2007...
arrested in London, but failed due to the British authorities having recommended to Almog that he not enter Britain. Machover stated that his firm is gathering evidence all the time and would not hesitate to file charges against other Israeli officers: "Doron Almog is only one of these individuals. [...] This is an issue about justice and about the proper application of criminal law."
Subsequent attempts by Machover to arrest Israeli politicians and soldiers on war-crimes charges have been thwarted by the British government, the most recent being an attempt to issue an arrest warrant for former Israel foreign minister and current leader of the opposition, Tzipi Livni
Tzipi Livni
Tzipporah Malkah "Tzipi" Livni is an Israeli lawyer and politician. She is the current Israeli Opposition Leader and leader of Kadima, the largest party in the Knesset. Raised an ardent nationalist, Livni has become one of her nation's leading voices for the two-state solution. In Israel she has...
. The United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
Goldstone Report accused Israel of war crimes against the civilian population of Gaza, during its 2008-9 assault on the Gaza Strip. As Israeli Foreign Minister at the time, Tzipi Livni would be personally guilty of war crimes, were the war crimes charge to be upheld by a British court.
The British government apologized to Israel, and offered to alter British law, requiring in the future the approval of the attorney general before arrest warrants can be issued under the laws of 'international jurisdiction'.