[JURIST] The former chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces [official website] has called off a trip to London after a complaint was filed in Great Britain against him and other top Israeli military officers for "war crimes." Moshe Ya'alon [Wikipedia profile] had been invited by an Israeli soldiers support group to attend a fund-raising event in Britain, but changed his plans upon news that British authorities were seeking to question Israel's former commanders. The charges relate to a 2002 bombing raid in the Gaza Strip which killed 12 Palestinians, and British courts are responding to the appeals of human rights groups who unsuccessfully tried to have the cases heard in Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom [official profile] has described Britain's plan to question the Israeli officers for alleged war crimes as "scandalous." AFP has more. Meanwhile, war crimes charges have also been filed in Great Britain against Israeli municipal authorities for demolishing the homes of East Jerusalem residents because they did not have "proper construction permits." From Israel, Haaretz has local coverage.