Judge facing sexual harassment allegations hastens controversial war crime trial involving Israel
Is it acceptable for the prime minister of a democratic ally of the United States to visit Washington? That used to be a simple question with an obvious answer. However, recent events have complicated things.
On Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Earlier this year, I revealed in the New York Post that the ICC was planning to take such an action, which many doubted at the time.
Critics pointed out that the ICC had never gone after the leader of a democracy before. The charges were based on no evidence or on-the-ground investigation.
Those who witnessed the recent conflict firsthand highlighted that the allegations against Israel were false and baseless.
It later emerged that the ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, who brought the arrest warrants, was accused of sexual misconduct by a former colleague. This raised questions about his credibility.
Despite Khan’s denial of the allegations, he hurriedly issued war crimes charges against Netanyahu, suggesting Mossad might target him, which only added to the controversy.
Now with arrest warrants in effect, both Netanyahu and Gallant are at risk of being arrested in countries that recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Fortunately, neither the US nor Israel are part of the ICC’s jurisdiction, protecting their leaders from such arbitrary actions.
The warrants issued by the ICC are a serious matter that raises concerns about the court’s impartiality and fairness.
While some countries have signed up to the ICC’s jurisdiction, allowing foreign judges to dictate how sovereign nations defend themselves, others like the US and Israel have wisely refrained from doing so.
This situation not only impacts Israel but also raises potential risks for America and its allies.
It is crucial for leaders like President-elect Trump to make it clear that any attempts to target America or its allies will be met with strong resistance.
