After France statement on Netanyahu warrant, EU’s Borrell says ICC decisions must be respected

Outgoing European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calls on all EU member states to respect decisions by the International Criminal Court, including the arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We cannot undermine the International Criminal Court. It is the only way of having global justice,” Borrell, whose term as the EU’s top diplomat ends this month, tells reporters in Brussels.

“They’re not political. It’s a legal body formed by respected people who are the best among the profession of judges.”

The ICC issued arrest warrants last week for Netanyahu, his former defense chief Yoav Gallant and a Hamas leader whom Israel says it killed this summer, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

Though all EU member states are signatories to the ICC’s founding treaty, France said yesterday it believed Netanyahu had immunity to actions by the ICC, given Israel has not signed up to the court statutes.

Italy has said it is not feasible to arrest Netanyahu as long as he remains head of Israel’s government.