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Justice minister proposed probe against Netanyahu, Gallant in bid to avoid war crimes charges — report

11 September 2024, 9:38 pm 9 Edit
Left: Justice Minister Yariv Levin speaks during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Right: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a conference at the University of Haifa, December 15, 2022. (Shir Torem/Flash90)
Left: Justice Minister Yariv Levin speaks during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Right: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a conference at the University of Haifa, December 15, 2022. (Shir Torem/Flash90)

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, acting at the behest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal probe into Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as a way to try and circumvent a request to issue an arrest warrant against the two at the International Criminal Court, Channel 12 reports.

The report says Netanyahu wanted the probe to be opened and then closed, with a report filed to the ICC that the charges had been investigated.

The report says Baharav-Miara rejected the request, saying that it was a blatant ploy and would not satisfy the court. Baharav-Miara believes that only a State Commission of Inquiry — Israel’s highest level probe — into October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, would satisfy the court.

Netanyahu has so far refused to commit to such a probe, saying it must wait until the end of the war. The report says Netanyahu fears it is a legal ploy to try and oust him from power.

The request from Levin came after ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan this week urged the court to issue the arrest warrants he requested in May against Netanyahu, Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, “with utmost urgency.”

Khan requested arrest warrants against the Israeli and Hamas leaders in May on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes for the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas, and Israel’s military policies in its subsequent war against the terror group.

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