Netanyahu warrant of arrest would be ‘victory for rule of law’
Justice Minister Roland Lamola believes the request to the International Criminal Court to issue a warrant of arrest for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would leave him politically weaker at home.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan this week applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three top Hamas leaders, on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The prosecutor said he was seeking warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for crimes including "wilful killing", "extermination and/or murder" and "starvation".
Lamola spoke to the media on the sidelines of the ANC’s Siyanqoba election rally at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The minister said the move “is a victory for the rule of international law that a world order must be run through laws, it must be respected and our view is that there is no longer any place for Netanyahu and the Israel authorities to hide”.
The International Court of Justice on Friday also ordered Israel to halt its military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the Gaza war.
Earlier this week, International Relations Minister, Naledi Pandor, said the arrest of Netanyahu would be a victory for an ANC-led government which supports the liberation of Palestinians.
Pandor made the remarks while addressing the Muslim community in Polokwane on the ANC’s stance on the Palestine situation.
“We are very pleased that the ICC, the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, is finally seeking an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Pandor said.
“We put together a credible team of leaders to support us in the International Court of Justice.”
