the shock in Israel after the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Benjamin Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court also issued an arrest warrant for Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli Defense Minister.

The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants on Thursday, November 21 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and against the head of the armed wing of Hamas Mohammed Deif, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. “Pure and absurd lies”Benjamin Netanyahu reacted.

In Israel, this is obviously a shock. The request for an arrest warrant against former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and, above all, against current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was therefore validated by these three judges of the preliminary chamber of the International Criminal Court. This therefore opens the way to a possible trial. According to an Israeli observer, a former diplomat who is rather moderate in his comments and political opinions, this decision is almost seen as an insult to the country's justice and democracy. What the ICC judges are saying to Israel today, according to him, is that they believe that the democracy of the Hebrew state is not strong enough to judge its leaders itself and that international justice must therefore replace national justice. As if Israel, he said, was no longer a state of law.

From Thursday, November 21, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant can therefore be arrested on the territory, and even on the territories of the 124 countries which have ratified the Treaty of Rome. This treaty governs the functioning of the ICC. This obviously includes France but also other large countries such as Canada, Great Britain or Germany. The United States, on the other hand, is not concerned because it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

There are also consequences for diplomatic trips to Israel and, currently, ongoing negotiations over the war in Lebanon. Many leaders will have to position themselves and some should refuse to come to Israel to speak with a leader sought by many police forces around the world. Finally, on the domestic level, it is very likely that Benjamin Netanyahu will adopt a strategy of the “alone against all” type which until now has worked rather well. The society of the Hebrew State is in fact standing, in these wars that it considers existential, behind its leaders who must, according to many Israelis, face a world that does not understand them.