ICC, Netanyahu to suffer consequences of arrest warrant: The Economist
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The article says the ICC's decision has sent shockwaves through the US presidential transition process, posing a significant challenge to Joe Biden's outgoing administration.
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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest near the US Capitol as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint meeting of Congress in Washington, DC on July 24, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)
A new article by The Economist highlighted the intense international fallout from the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant.
The decision, as per the piece, is poised to have significant diplomatic and legal consequences for both the Israeli leaders and the court itself, igniting widespread debate on the global stage.
The ICC's decision, which charged the two men with overseeing war crimes during the Israeli year-long war on Gaza, primarily focuses on assertions of using starvation as a weapon of war and directing attacks on civilians in Gaza.
While the court's decision is seen as a significant diplomatic blow for Netanyahu, it also presents challenges for the ICC, the piece stressed.
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The warrants, issued by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, follow a case that is distinct from the ongoing accusations of genocide against "Israel" being heard by the International Court of Justice.
However, the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant are viewed as more straightforward to prove, and they may face restrictions on travel to countries that are members of the ICC, including many of "Israel's" allies.
The ruling has triggered condemnation within "Israel", with political figures labeling it anti-Semitic.
"But the charge of antisemitism cheapens the term. Nothing about the court’s history suggests a fixation with Jews," The Economist pointed out, noting that this is the first time the ICC has indicted Israelis.
While "Israel" is not a member of the ICC and will not extradite its leaders to The Hague, the arrest warrants will likely hinder Netanyahu and Gallant's ability to travel to 124 countries that are ICC members, especially with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressing that the court’s decision was binding on all members of the bloc.
As for the US, The Economist indicated that the ICC's decision has sent shockwaves through the presidential transition process, posing a significant challenge to Joe Biden's outgoing administration, creating divisions within the Democratic Party, and provoking outrage among Republicans as they prepare to assume control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in January.
It recalled that leading Republicans have warned that the United States would impose sanctions on the court if it proceeds with issuing arrest warrants against Netanyahu or other Israeli officials.
"Ironically, it may be the court that suffers the most immediate consequences in the form of sanctions imposed by America. Mr Netanyahu is not about to end up in the dock, nor is Israel about to end its war in Gaza," the article suggested.
However, it suggested that the latest development will have long-term consequences: both Netanyahu and "Israel" will be more isolated and more dependent on the US.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
