Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speak to reporters in Tel Aviv on Oct. 17, 2023. (Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO)
A spokesman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has intimated that Benjamin Netanyahu would not be arrested in their country despite the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant issued against the Israeli prime minister.
Following the ICC decision to issue the arrest warrant against both Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, German government spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, indicated that no such arrest would be made in their country due to its Holocaust history, according to a report in Friday’s Telegraph.
Hebestreit’s statement expressed respect for the ICC as a body but qualified Germany’s endorsement, saying: “At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and great responsibility with Israel. We will carefully examine the domestic steps. Any further action would only be taken when a visit [to Germany] by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant is foreseeable.”
“I find it hard to imagine that arrests could be carried out in Germany on this basis,” he said.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has previously given assurances that Germany complies with the ICC “at every level,” according to a Reuters report , but recently said, “Whether the Israeli prime minister will enter the European Union is a hypothetical question. But we are now examining exactly how we will deal with it,” in an interview with broadcaster RTL/ntv.
On Thursday, Italy’s defense minister, Guido Crosetto, explained on RAI television that as a member of the ICC, Italy was bound to act on the court’s warrants. Crosetto told the news outlet plainly, “We would have to arrest them.”
The United Kingdom also said they would respect the court’s decision.
Like Germany, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán openly promised to defy the ICC’s decision.
Orbán criticized the ruling as “political” and said it “discredits” international law. He also warned that it could add “fuel to the flames” of the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization.
“The ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu is brazen, cynical, and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety,” said Orbán, calling the ICC ruling a “disgraceful decision.”