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IDF man used disguise in UK

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A senior official in the Israeli army has revealed that his fear of being targeted by anti-Israel activists prompted him to travel to London last year in disguise.

More than a year after Israeli Opposition leader Tzipi Livni cancelled a London speech for fear of arrest under Britain's universal jurisdiction law, Brigadier-General Avi Benayahu said he found it necessary to visit Britain under "a borrowed identity" and accompanied by security guards.

Mr Benayahu, who is chief spokesman of the IDF, told the Herzliya conference that the precautions had been vital despite the fact his background was in journalism and he had never fired a shot in his life.

He said he was told "that the moment they spotted me at the hotel, thanks to social networks, there would be a demonstration in front of the hotel in an hour."

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