Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Photo: ukrinform.
Italy has expressed concern over the legality of the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Galant. The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, said that there were “numerous legal doubts” about these warrants, noting that they could cause legal problems for the international community. This was reported by the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing Israelinfo.
During a meeting with his colleagues at the G7 summit in Italy, Tayyani stressed that Netanyahu would probably avoid travelling to countries where there is a risk of his detention under the ICC order. He emphasised the importance of continuing dialogue with Israel, even despite the legal dispute, stating: “We must strive for peace, not an escalation of the conflict.”
Dialogue and peace: Italy’s position on Israel
Minister Tajani also pointed out that while one may not agree with the policies of the Israeli government, it is important to maintain a constructive dialogue with its leadership in order to find ways to peace, in particular in Lebanon and Gaza. Italy, like many other Western countries, believes that the International Criminal Court should focus exclusively on legal aspects and not get involved in political processes.
Tayyani stressed that comparing Netanyahu and Gallant to the terrorist Muhammad Deif, who was responsible for organising the 7 October attack, is “unrealistic”, noting that such accusations only exacerbate the conflict and strengthen the positions of actors such as Hizbullah and Iran.
France and G7 countries: responding to ICC warrants
In his turn, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier said that if Netanyahu arrives in France, he will be detained in accordance with the ICC warrant. This statement was the result of recent telephone conversations between Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the Israeli prime minister expressed his indignation at Paris’ position. In response, Macron stressed the need to comply with international law, according to which France is obliged to comply with the court’s decision.
A meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Rome confirmed that the G7 countries, including the UK, France, Italy, Japan and Canada, would abide by the ICC’s decision if Netanyahu or Gallant arrived on their territory. The United States, despite not being a member of the ICC, said it would not prevent other countries from complying with the court’s decision, stressing respect for international law.
The road to peace: diplomacy at the forefront
In summing up the situation, Tayyani emphasised the importance of maintaining peace in the region, stressing that every death is a defeat for all, and that the main goal of the international community is to ensure peace in Lebanon and Gaza. At the same time, he expressed hope that the G7 countries would be able to develop a unified position on the ICC’s decisions, which would contribute to achieving stability in the region.
