France will not be able to execute the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, since he has the immunity of a head of state that has not ratified the Rome Statute, the Republic’s Foreign Ministry said in a communiqué.
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“France will respect its international obligations with the understanding that the Rome Statute requires full cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), but also provides that a State cannot be required to act inconsistently with its obligations under international law regarding the immunity of heads of state other than parties to the ICC. Such immunity extends to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other relevant ministers, and they will need to be taken into account if the ICC requests his arrest and extradition,” the Foreign Ministry said.
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They pointed to the “historic friendship” of Paris and Tel Aviv, noting that “France will continue direct cooperation with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli authorities for the sake of peace and security in the Middle East.”
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The day before, the RMC radio station reported that Benjamin Netanyahu tried to put pressure on French President Emmanuel Macron so that Paris would not enforce the ICC decision to arrest him.
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It was later reported that the Israeli government opposed any French participation in the ceasefire negotiations in Lebanon. As the Israeli media wrote, the head of France, Emmanuel Macron, has a “clear anti-Israel position,” citing as examples Macron’s “shameful” call for an international arms embargo on Israel, as well as his statement that it was the UN that created the State of Israel.
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Last week, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Many countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland, have indicated they will comply with the ICC ruling.
