Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retains the possibility of traveling to the United States, a nation that, similar to Israel, does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The U.S. remains the notable country that has unequivocally condemned the ICC’s recent actions against him. On Thursday, officials from the Biden administration issued a statement underscoring that they “fundamentally reject(s) the court’s decision,” reinforcing their stance against the ICC’s authority.
However, the existence of these warrants has the potential to complicate Netanyahu’s U.S. travel plans, as there is a risk that his aircraft may be required to make an unscheduled landing in an ICC member nation should it enter their airspace during transit.
US-EUROPE TIES KEEP GETTING MORE COMPLICATED
The fallout from the ICC warrants could further entangle Europe’s already precarious relationship with US president-elect Donald Trump, especially as both Republicans and Democrats rally around Israel. There are looming threats of sanctions against the court, its judges, and its prosecutors, reflecting a growing transatlantic tension.
Trita Parsi, the executive director of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft located in Washington, provided his insight via X, stating, “It is reasonable to expect that once Trump comes in, he will go after the ICC and the ICJ in ways that profoundly damage the multilateral system,” pointing to escalating concerns about the potential shifts in international legal dynamics.
Michael Waltz, who has been nominated by Trump for the role of national security advisor, reiterated sentiments shared by Netanyahu and his defense minister Yoav Gallant regarding the ICC’s actions. He emphasized, “You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & UN come January,” anticipating a rigorous defense of Israel once Trump officially assumes office.
In a show of unwavering support for Trump, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announced plans to introduce legislation meant to “put other countries on notice.” He warned, “If you aid and abet the ICC after their action against the State of Israel, you can expect consequences from the United States,” signaling a clear intention to retaliate against any international backing of the court’s decision.
