Head of European Diplomacy Josep Borrell Photo: Fred Sierakowki/AP
European Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell said that EU member states are obliged to comply with the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Daif. The orders are related to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Jerusalem Post reports.
A clear EU position on implementation
“States that have signed the Rome Statute (the ICC’s founding act) are obliged to comply with the court’s decisions. This is not an option,” Borrell said during his visit to Cyprus. He also stressed that the same requirements apply to countries seeking to join the EU.
Borrell on the split in the EU and accusations of anti-Semitism
Borrell, who is known for his critical stances on Israeli policies, expressed regret over the split in the EU member states’ positions on the ICC ruling. “This is a legal decision, not a political one, and it has nothing to do with anti-Semitism,” he stressed.
At the same time, Borrell condemned the double standards in the reactions of EU countries. “When the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin, many applauded. But now, when it comes to Netanyahu, the same voices are silent,” the diplomat said.
Reactions of individual EU countries
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has already said that Netanyahu is a “welcome guest” in Hungary and does not risk arrest. In Germany, the government has also expressed doubts about the possibility of arresting the Israeli leader, citing the country’s “historical circumstances,” including the Holocaust.
The ICC’s decision sparks a serious debate in the EU about the rule of international law and the interaction between politics and history.
