ENTRE News – Germany is committed to arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes if the International Criminal Court (ICC) releases an arrest warrant. This statement confirms the response to the request of the Israeli Ambassador to Berlin Ron Prosor, which was rejected by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. At that time, Israel asked Germany to reject the legitimacy of the ICC.
Previously, Prosecutor Karim Khan submitted a request to the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant FOR4D in connection with war crimes. The application was submitted to pre-trial Room 1 of the International Criminal Court regarding the Palestinian situation. Khan admitted that he had collected a number of pieces of evidence to strengthen his application. Scholz’s spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, emphasized that the German government would continue to carry out the ICC’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.
“Of course (arrest). Yes, we obey the law,” said Hebestreit, quoted by The Jerusalem Post.
Before Hebestreit’s announcement, Prosor wrote in X that he was furious at Olaf Scholz’s rejection.
“This is outrageous! Germany’s ‘Staatsräson’ is now being tested. This is in contrast to the weak statements we have heard from some institutions and political actors. Public statements that Israel has the right to defend itself will lose credibility if our hands are tied once we defend ourselves,” he wrote.
Staatsräson is a German word that refers to Germany’s promise to ensure Israel’s security is part of its national security and interests. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel FOR4D stated in her 2008 Knesset speech that Israel is part of Germany’s raison d’etre or state of existence.