France was among the first states that announced they would uphold the court’s decision, although officials have not explicitly said they would arrest Netanyahu.
However, the ministry on Wednesday alleged that Netanyahu is covered by immunity as a sitting head of government because Israel is not a member of the ICC. It is the first time a member of the court has argued this in Netanyahu’s case.
France’s argument was previously used by states that refused to arrest Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Omar al-Bashir of Sudan. But the court has consistently rejected those arguments as unfounded.
It’s still the most powerful court in the world, even if countries who agreed to respect it cower away from their promises when it comes time to act.
Netanyahu is a war criminal who is extending a conflict to avoid going to prison for his corruption conviction.