Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Friday called for the immediate cancellation of the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Israeli officials, responding to the dismissal of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. 'The delayed dismissal of Karim Khan revealed the moral bankruptcy of a corrupt prosecutor who rushed to issue scandalous arrest warrants,' Sa'ar said in a statement reported by Channel 12.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Friday evening called for the immediate cancellation of the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Israeli officials, responding to the dismissal of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. "The delayed dismissal of Karim Khan revealed the moral bankruptcy of a corrupt prosecutor who rushed to issue scandalous arrest warrants," Sa'ar said in a statement reported by Channel 12. The ICC's member states voted to fire Khan on Friday, Channel 12 reported.
The Zioneer has been tracking the story since Thursday, when it reported at 16:00 Jerusalem that France would support Khan's removal and that a vote was scheduled for Friday. Later Thursday, reports indicated that member states had ratified the removal and that Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon had responded. Earlier Friday, at 20:30 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported Danon's statement calling the dismissal a chance to cancel the "absurd" arrest warrant.
Sa'ar has been a vocal critic of the ICC. As The Zioneer has reported, he previously severed contact with the EU foreign minister over an "apartheid" remark and accused the court of double standards and antisemitism. The arrest warrants have been a major point of contention between Israel and the ICC, which Israel says lacks jurisdiction.
It remains unclear whether the ICC will act on Sa'ar's demand. The court's position on the arrest warrants following Khan's dismissal has not been stated.
8 developments
- DevelopingIsrael's UN envoy Danon: ICC prosecutor suspension is a chance to quash arrest warrant for Netanyahu
- DevelopingSuspended ICC prosecutor Karim Khan calls his suspension unjustified and illegal
- StrongReuters: ICC executive board recommends removing chief prosecutor Karim Khan after misconduct probe
- DevelopingSaar and MK Saada attack prosecution after panel upholds recommendation to drop bribery charge in Case 4000
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