JERUSALEM, Israel - The arrest warrant issued by a British judge against Opposition leader Tzipi Livni could harm future relations between the two countries and diminish Britain's role in the Middle East peace process, Israel's Foreign Ministry warned in a statement Tuesday morning.

"We reject the court's cynical legal move against Opposition chairwoman Tzipi Livni, which was initiated by radical elements," the statement - which urged the British government to address the situation without delay - read.

"Lack of firm and immediate action aimed at repairing the situation will harm the relations between the two countries," the Foreign Ministry warned.

"Israel calls on the British government to fulfill, once and for all, its promises and prevent an abuse of the British legal system against Israel and its citizens by anti-Israel elements," the statement read.

"If Israeli leaders cannot visit Britain in a proper and honorable manner, this will naturally serve as a real obstacle to Britains's desire to take an active part in the peace process in the Middle East," the Foreign Ministry's statement concluded.

Meanwhile on Monday, the British Foreign Office issued a statement of its own.

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

According to The Guardian, British pro-Palestinian groups petitioned the Westminster Magistrate's Court to issue an arrest warrant against Livni for alleged war crimes during Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip last winter.

Source: YNet news