The former head of the investigation agency of the Attorney General's Office, Tomás Zerón, in 2015 Sáshenka Gutiérrez / EFE
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has asked Israel this morning to accelerate the extradition process against Tomás Zerón, former head of the investigation of the
Ayotzinapa case
.
The president has reminded Tel Aviv that the former official faces charges in Mexico for the crimes of torture and forced disappearance when he served as director of the Criminal Investigation Agency, of the defunct Attorney General's Office (PGR), during the Government of Enrique Peña grandson.
"I hope the Government of Israel acts with respect for human rights, because the extradition of this public official is being requested, among other things, for acts of torture," said López Obrador in his morning conference this Thursday.
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Zerón was in charge of directing the investigations after the attack and disappearance of the normalistas students in the State of Guerrero, in 2014. In addition, the Mexican Prosecutor's Office has accused the former official of the overpriced purchase of vehicles equipped with spying systems, digital platforms intelligence and the construction of a PGR center in Querétaro.
"I hope that the Government of Israel adheres to a policy of respect for human rights," López Obrador reiterated, referring to a report published last week by
The New York Times.
, which revealed that the Israeli government has decided to extend the extradition process, in response to Mexico's position at the United Nations, which has supported investigations into allegations of war crimes against Palestinians.
The US newspaper, which quoted a high-level source from the Israeli government, assured that diplomatic relations between the two countries remain tense due to this diplomatic struggle. "Why should we help Mexico?" The Israeli official told the newspaper. Israel's response is given due to the position of the Mexican Government, which has supported the resolutions issued within the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the abuses committed by the Israeli Army against the Palestinian population, including the offensive unleashed in Gaza in May. "The official said that Israel had no interest in acceding to Mexico's extradition request after such hostile measures towards Israel in Geneva," the newspaper said.
López Obrador has explained that Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has sent a note about this publication to the Israeli Government and that the ambassador of that country has clarified that what was published by the US newspaper was not an official position.
Zerón, who initially fled to Canada, has requested asylum in Israel, but the process remains stalled after Mexico requested his extradition.
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