The Government of Mexico accused that Israel has granted de facto protection to Tomás Zerón of Lucio, noted in the Ayotzinapa casewhich could become an irritating and disruptive factor in the bilateral relationship between both nations.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry also expressed its concern and disagreement with the treatment that has been given to the case of Zerón, who is linked to the case of the 43 missing normal students from Ayotzinapa.
“The lack of progress in the resolution of this case is interpreted as a de facto protection by the Israeli government to Tomás Zerón and threatens to become an irritating and disruptive factor with the State of Israel“said the SRE in a statement.
Zerón de Lucio, former head of the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC), is wanted by the Mexican justice system for crimes of tortureviolation of human rights and forced disappearance in the case of the 43 students of the “Raúl Isidro Burgos” Rural Normal School, in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, as well as for the improper use of powers and powers, embezzlement, comparable fraud and criminal association.
The Government of Mexico highlighted that The process to request the delivery of Zerón has been long and fruitlessremembering that this is an individual accused of committing acts of violence, instilling fear, torturing and remaining a fugitive from justice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) detailed the efforts carried out so far, pointing out that the last communication about the case was carried out on March 21, but no results were obtained.
Despite multiple requests for updates to the State of Israel, the responses received have been evasive, the SRE warned.
He noted that the Israeli Ministry of Justice communicated in December 2023 that the extradition request was “in its final stage of analysis”, but this same response was repeated in February 2024.
Long and fruitless process
The SRE reported that the Government of Mexico presented an extradition request on July 9, 2020, initially to the Canadian authorities, which proceeded to search for him and, upon not locating him, reported on August 24, 2020 that Tomás Zerón had left. from that country on August 21, 2019 bound for Tel Aviv.
In August 2020, the agency added, the Attorney General's Office (FGR) began negotiations with the State of Israel to locate Tomas Zerón, required by the Mexican justice system.
The formal extradition request to the State of Israel was presented by the Mexican Foreign Ministry on December 30, 2021, the SRE specified.
During this period and until April 2024, Mexico has reiterated on several occasions, at the highest political and diplomatic level, the importance it attaches to the case and the serious concern over the lack of progress, the federal agency added.
The Foreign Ministry recalled that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent letters to the then Prime Minister Naftalí Bennett, in September 2021, and to his successor, Benjamín Netanyahu, in June 2023, requesting and reiterating the extradition of Tomás Zerón.
He added that both the FGR and the Foreign Ministry have repeatedly insisted on the prompt resolution of this case of national interest, with their Israeli counterparts, through 22 videoconferences, at least 70 electronic communications and a visit to Jerusalem by a Mexican delegation headed by the head of the Specialized Investigation and Litigation Unit for the Ayotzinapa Case, attached to the FGR.
After multiple update requests to Israel, on December 14, 2023, the Ministry of Justice of that country announced that the extradition request is in its final stage of analysis.
This same information was reiterated on February 1, 2024 by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agency stated.
The SRE mentioned that on March 21, the Israeli authorities insisted unsuccessfully on the need to know the progress in the case.
“The legal action that Mexico demands from the Government of Israel seeks the extradition of a person accused of committing acts of violence, instilling fear, torturing and remaining a fugitive from justice,” he said.
“The lack of progress in resolving this case is interpreted as a de facto protection by the Israeli Government to Tomás Zerón and threatens to become an irritating and disruptive factor with the State of Israel.”
The Foreign Ministry highlighted that the Government of Mexico, through the SRE and the FGR, will continue to follow up and promptly comply with the two pending extradition cases with the State of Israel.
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