France was among the first states that announced they would uphold the court’s decision, although officials have not explicitly said they would arrest Netanyahu.
However, the ministry on Wednesday alleged that Netanyahu is covered by immunity as a sitting head of government because Israel is not a member of the ICC. It is the first time a member of the court has argued this in Netanyahu’s case.
France’s argument was previously used by states that refused to arrest Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Omar al-Bashir of Sudan. But the court has consistently rejected those arguments as unfounded.
Where is Danny Glover when you need him?
Civilian arrest the only solution.
According to Article 27 of the Rome Statute, all wanted persons are equal before the court, including heads of a state or government. No immunities under international law may bar the court from exercising its jurisdiction.
“No international court has ever found that a head of state or high ranking individual has immunity before it, and Article 27 was meant to codify that principle,” [says] “Leila Sadat, a leading expert on immunities and former ICC special advisor on crimes against humanity[.]”
The immunity loophole found in Article 98 (1), according to the judgement, must be read in context and interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the object and purpose of the Rome Statute, meaning that it should not be read to carve out an exception to Article 27’s clear provisions.
… the reference to state immunity under Article 98 (1) is related to the immunity of a state and its property, not its leaders or officials.
So yeah, there is no credibility for the ICC. Because of the actions of these countries, the ICC is now a theater court for theater cases. The whole world was watching and it was demonstrated that its use is merely a political tool for countries that aren’t part of a specific sphere of influence and not an impartial court of international law.
What a shame and disgrace. We will ALL suffer the repercussions of the actions taking place today by countries such as France, the US and Germany.
What a shame and disgrace. We will ALL suffer the repercussions of the actions taking place today by countries such as France, the US and Germany.
Add the UK and that’s most of the world history right there
I’m surprised they’re even bothering to make a deal out of this considering putting any sort of stance against Israel would be in direct opposition to the USA, which literally every other country has refused to do out of fear or collusion.
Not to mention the ICC really only functions when someone either loses or is kicked out of their own country. People made a big deal of no one arresting Putin as if anyone was actually going to take on Russia by themselves by arresting Putin.
