President Isaac Herzog expressed concerns about arrest warrants that might be issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague against Israeli officials during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday.
“While we are waging a war to defend our citizens and bring about a different future in the Middle East,” Herzog told Blinken, “Our enemies and other parties are trying to undermine the entire process by using international, legal forums that were established to create a world order that pursues peace and the values and norms that we all hold dear in the modern world.”
“Especially the efforts done at the International Criminal Court,” Herzog clarified in relation to who he was referring to by “other parties.”
“Israel has a very strong legal system, [a] very strong adjudication and law enforcement system, and it has taken legal action – from the highest authorities in this land to any other citizen,” Herzog relayed.
“We are very proud of this and the rule of international law regarding complementarity is a basic world norm,” he added.
“Therefore, trying to use the International Criminal Court against Israel, which is fighting terror, is a clear and present danger to democracies and to free peace-loving nations that pursue the norms of international law... I call upon all our allies and friends to object and reject any such efforts,” Herzog said.
Blinken blames Hamas
He thanked Blinken for his support, saying, “I think there should be a unanimous decision from the international community that freeing the hostages is of the utmost priority.”
Notably, Blinken stated ahead of the meeting that Hamas is “the only reason” a ceasefire would not be reached at this point in the negotiations.