ICC issues arrest warrant against Netanyahu
The chance that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will actually be brought to trial seems slim. And yet the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu will have a significant impact and comes as a hard blow for Israel. Larissa van den Herik, Professor of Public International Law, discusses the case on Dutch news programme ‘NOS Journaal’.
Public broadcaster NOS reports that Karim Khan KC, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), had previously attempted to issue an arrest warrant against Mr Netanyahu back in May.
All countries that recognise the authority of the ICC are now obliged to execute the arrest warrant if Mr Netanyahu enters their territory. Whether all countries would actually carry out the arrest is now uncertain. Responses have been divided. The US – a country that does not recognise the ICC’s authority – opposes the warrant, while France has not yet taken a stance. The Netherlands' position is clear, says Caspar Veldkamp, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Netanyahu would be arrested in accordance with the Rome Statute to which all EU Member States are a party.
'A stigmatising effect'
Professor Van den Herik feels that the arrest warrant has a ‘stigmatising effect’. The court confirmed that there are ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe that the crimes (war crimes and crimes against humanity) have been committed. The arrest warrant issued means that it will be difficult for Mr Netanyahu to travel abroad given the risk of his being arrested.
More information
Watch the full NOS broadcast here (in Dutch)
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