European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Saturday that European Union governments cannot selectively deal with the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
“The states that signed the Rome convention are obliged to implement the decision of the court. It’s not optional,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s outgoing chief diplomat, said in Cyprus.
He emphasized that the same legal obligations extend to nations seeking EU membership. “It would be very funny that the newcomers have an obligation that current members don’t fulfill,” Borrell told Reuters.
He lashed out at Israel, saying, “Every time someone disagrees with the policy of one Israeli government – (they are) being accused of antisemitism. I have the right to criticize the decisions of the Israeli government, be it Mr. Netanyahu or someone else, without being accused of antisemitism. This is not acceptable. That’s enough.”
On Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leader Muhammad al-Deif, on charges of “committing crimes against humanity.”
