Merz to invite Netanyahu to Germany: Israeli PM’s office
Friedrich Merz, who is likely to become Germany’s next chancellor following yesterday’s election, has had a phone conversation with Israel’s prime minister, according to Netanyahu’s office.
The leader of the Christian Democrats said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany, the prime minister’s office said.
This apparently suggests Germany under Merz intends not to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu. Last November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for him and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Merz says he will find a way for Netanyahu to visit Germany despite arrest warrant
Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed inviting Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against the Israeli PM for alleged war crimes.
“I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli prime minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany,” Merz said at a news conference a day after his conservatives won the largest share of the vote in a national election.
He said he had told Netanyahu by phone “that we would find ways and means for him to visit Germany and leave again without being arrested”.
EU countries including Germany are signatories of the founding treaty of the court, which requires members to arrest its suspects on their territory.
Calls for EU to ban trade with Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank
Amnesty International and 162 other civil society organisations and trade unions have signed a joint letter calling on the EU to ban trade and business with Israel’s settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
“Despite EU consensus about the settlements’ illegality and their link to serious abuses, the EU continues to trade and allow business with them,” the letter said.
This contributes to “the serious and systemic human rights and other international law abuses underpinning the settlement enterprise”, it added.
The International Court of Justice in July issued a landmark advisory opinion affirming that states must not recognise, aid or assist the unlawful situation arising from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
