Germany Does Not Want To Respond To Netanyahu's Arrest Order

Berlin, Germany/ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Maheshkumar Painam

JAKARTA - The German government will carefully observe the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Germany will not take further steps until Netanyahu's visit to Germany is planned.

"I find it difficult to imagine we will make arrests on this basis," said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

Hebestreit did not specifically explain these questions and did not answer when asked if Netanyahu would be accepted in Germany.

The position of the German government regarding arms shipments to Israel has not changed following an arrest warrant and is still subject to case assessments per case.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on the sidelines of the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Germany respects the work of the ICC and obeys the law at the national, European and international levels.

"Whether the Israeli prime minister will join the European Union is still a hypothetical question. But we are now reviewing how we will deal with it," he told the RTL/ntv television station in an interview.

Netanyahu was last in Germany in March 2023, and currently there are no plans for a visit between the two countries.

Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also mentioned Germany's historical responsibility for what it considers special support for Israel.

"The German government is involved in drafting the ICC law and is one of the biggest supporters of the ICC this attitude is also the result of German history," said Hebestreit.

"At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we have a unique relationship and a great responsibility with Israel," he added.

As previously reported, the issuance of an ICC arrest warrant is not an official travel ban.

However, they are at risk of being arrested if they travel to the ICC signatory country, which may affect the decision making of individuals included in the arrest warrant.

There is no limit for political leaders, lawmakers, or diplomats to meet with individuals who have an ICC arrest warrant.

There are 124 ICC member states required by a court establishment law to arrest and hand over any individual subject to an ICC arrest warrant if the individual sets foot on their territory.

There is no police, so the arrest of the suspect must be carried out by a member state.

ICC members cover all EU countries, UK, Canada, Japan, Brazil, and Australia.

In the Middle East region, Palestinian and Jordanian territories are members of the ICC. Israel is not a member country, nor is the United States.