A representative for Germany has said that if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enters the country, he would be arrested on suspicions of war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, affirmed on Wednesday, May 22, that the government would ‘abide by the law’ and arrest the Israeli leader if he visited the EU country.
The announcement follows British prosecutor Karim Khan’s declaration on Monday that he is pursuing warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas terror officials, including Yahya Sinwar, the ruler of Gaza who masterminded the terror assault on October 7.
Netanyahu called the claims a ‘distortion of facts’ and accused the prosecutor of ‘callously pouring petrol on the fires of antisemitism that are blazing over the world’.
Germany’s decision came after Israel’s Ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, made an urgent request to the German government to reject the ICC’s planned arrest order.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Prosor wrote: “This is outrageous! The German “Staatsräson” is now being put to the test—no ifs or buts.
“This contrasts with the weak statements we hear from some institutions and political actors. The public statement that Israel has the right to self-defence loses credibility if our hands are tied as soon as we defend ourselves.”
Staatsräson refers to Germany’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s protection, as stated by former Chancellor Angela Merkel in a 2008 Knesset speech.
Prosor added: ‘The Chief Prosecutor equates a democratic government with Hamas, thereby demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and the Jewish people.”
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
