UN chief can theoretically still meet Netanyahu

The arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Israeli Prime Minister does not prevent senior UN officials from meeting him as part of their missions, the secretary-general’s spokesperson said on Thursday. of the United Nations. “We are obviously aware of the warrants issued by the ICC” against Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the head of the armed wing of Hamas Mohammed Deif for war crimes and crimes against humanity, indicated Stéphane Dujarric, noting that Antonio Guterres “respects the work and independence” of the Court.

“The question of our contacts with people who are the subject of an arrest warrant has not changed,” he added, recalling the principles set out in 2013 by the secretary general at the time, Ban Ki-moon. That is, there should be no contact between these individuals and UN officials unless such contact “is necessary to manage fundamental, operational issues, and for our ability to fulfill our mandates, including vital security issues,” he said.

So “the secretary general, senior UN officials, can meet people indicted by the International Criminal Court if it is for operational reasons (…) This is not encouraged, but clearly authorized,” he said. he insisted, noting that in this case, the ICC was notified in writing.