Australia splits with US on Netanyahu warrant

Australia has split with US President Joe Biden over an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes, after Foreign Minister Penny Wong refused to oppose or endorse the International Criminal Court’s decision.
The ICC issued warrants on Thursday for Mr Netanyahu and his sacked defence minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over Israel’s conduct in the war against terrorist group Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties.
Amid the controversy over Mr Netanyahu, Israel’s foreign ministry warned on Friday night the Albanese government had damaged bipartisan relations after refusing to issue a visa to former Israeli government minister Ayelet Shaked to visit Canberra next week for a security conference on the grounds she could incite discord.
Ms Shaked, a right-wing nationalist, is a staunch supporter of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and has a history of anti-Palestinian statements, including that the mothers of militants should also be killed “so they cannot bear any more terrorists”.
She also predicted that God and the Israeli army would turn the Gazan city of Khan Younis into a soccer field.
Israel foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said the decision to deny her a visa was unacceptable.
“The decision is deeply offensive and troubling, and will have a negative impact on Israel-Australia relations.”
The arrest warrant issued for Mr Netanyahu is the first time a leader of a country that is part of the broader US-led western alliance been targeted by The Hague. with Mr Biden labelled the ICC’s pursuit of Mr Netanyahu “outrageous”.
“Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security,” Mr Biden said.
However, Senator Wong said Australia respected the court’s independence and role in upholding international law. “We have been clear that all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law,” Senator Wong said on social media platform X.
Senator Wong’s statement is at least the fifth time Australia has put itself at odds with the US, its major security ally, on the Middle East. Those differences are likely to become starker under the Trump administration, which is expected to be even more supportive of Israel
Senator Wong’s office declined to say whether Australia, as a member of the ICC, would comply with the judicial orders and its responsibilities as a signatory to the Rome statute and arrest Mr Netanyahu should he try to travel to Australia, describing it as a hypothetical situation. The United Kingdom has also refused to say whether it would arrest Mr Netanyahu.
Other court members were more open and declared their willingness to arrest Mr Netanyahu should the opportunity arise. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the decision was binding on members and “has to be respected and implemented”.
Israel retaliated by cancelling a visit next week by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp after he said Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he entered the Netherlands.
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