Estonia–Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group: Application of the International Criminal Court for arrest warrant for leaders of the State of Israel is regrettable

NordenBladet —

We express our indignation about the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue a similar warrant of arrest against Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defence of Israel Yoav Gallant, as against the leaders of Hamas. 

With this, the ICC Chief Prosecutor is placing the democratically elected members of the Government of Israel on the same level as the leaders of an Islamist terrorist organisation.

Israel is a state governed by the rule of law, where an independent judicial system is in place. Alleged war crimes, including those committed by the Israel Defence Forces, are investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted. Hamas is a terrorist organisation whose main aim is to destroy the democratic State of Israel. 

ICC arrest warrants call into question the impartiality and competence of the International Criminal Court. They make it more complicated to resolve the conflict, release the hostages and achieve a lasting ceasefire. 

The credibility of the ICC is in Estonia’s national interests, especially in the current times, and undermining it is worrying and regrettable.

We reaffirm our continued support for the State of Israel and its right to self-defence.

We call on the governments of Estonia and Estonia’s allies not to recognise ICC arrest warrants against the leaders of the State of Israel.

The Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) is composed of Chairman Eerik-Niiles Kross and members Yoko Alender, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Meelis Kiili, Andrei Korobeinik, Lauri Laats, Jürgen Ligi, Riina Solman, Aivar Sõerd, Peeter Tali, Vilja Toomast and Kristo Enn Vaga.

For more information, please contact:
Eerik-Niiles Kross
chairman of Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group
eerik-niiles.kross@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Estonia–Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group: Application of the International Criminal Court for arrest warrant for leaders of the State of Israel is regrettable

Source: Parliament of Estonia