A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the German government's declaration that it would detain and extradite Netanyahu if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for him. Netanyahu's spokesman, Avi Hyman, accused Germany of "demonizing" Israel and "reversing its moral compass."
JERUSALEM — A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government for stating that Germany would arrest and deport Netanyahu if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant for his arrest.
"I am old enough to remember the German leader coming here days after Oct. 7, and stating the Hamas are the new Nazis. They seek a genocide against the Jews. Many in the world need to check their moral compass and be on the right side of history," Netanyahu's spokesman, Avi Hyman, told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Scholz's spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, was asked on Wednesday whether the German government would execute an ICC arrest order against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes during Israel's efforts to defeat the Hamas terrorist movement in the Gaza Strip. Hebestreit responded, "Of course. Yes, we abide by the law."
The ICC has requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, as well as Hamas leaders, over alleged war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Israel has rejected the ICC's jurisdiction, arguing that it is biased against the Jewish state.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, condemned Germany's position, saying, "It is beyond comprehension that any German government would arrest the democratically elected PM of the Jewish state on blood libel lies. It should be arresting all the antisemites attacking Jews on the streets of its nation. Never, never again."
Netanyahu's spokesman, Avi Hyman, accused Germany of "demonizing" Israel and "reversing its moral compass." Hyman said, "The German 'Staatsräson' is now being put to the test — no ifs or buts. This contrasts with the weak statements we hear from some institutions and political actors. The public statement that Israel has the right to self-defense loses credibility if our hands are tied as soon as we defend ourselves."
The German government's stance has sparked criticism from some commentators, who have argued that it reflects a failure to internalize the lessons of the Holocaust. Former Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, wrote in a Twitter post, "The Chief Prosecutor [of the ICC] equates a democratic government with Hamas, thereby demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and the Jewish people. He has completely lost his moral compass. Germany has a responsibility to readjust this compass."
Prosor called on Germany to fulfill its pledge to ensure Israel's security and combat antisemitism. He said, "This is outrageous! The German 'Staatsräson' is now being put to the test — no ifs or buts."
Germany is a strong supporter of the ICC and is one of its top donors. The ICC was founded in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. However, critics argue that the ICC has been overly focused on Africa and has neglected to investigate crimes committed by other nations, including Israel.
In conclusion, Netanyahu's spokesman has vehemently condemned the German government's decision to comply with an ICC arrest warrant against him. The German government's position has raised concerns among observers who believe it reflects a failure to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and a disregard for Israel's right to self-defense.
