EU official: Respect ICC warrants and arrest Netanyahu – or else

Borell stressed that countries which choose not to comply with the warrant could potentially face consequences.

By World Israel News Staff

Outgoing European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell, a long-time critic of Israel, demanded that all EU member states act in accordance with recently-issued International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The states that signed the Rome convention are obliged to implement the decision of the court. It’s not optional,” Borrell charged during a recent speech in Cyprus.

Borrell appeared to be referring to statements from some European countries, including Germany, that they would not comply with the warrant and would refrain from arresting Netanyahu if he traveled to their nations.

Hungarian President Victor Orban, a staunch supporter of Israel, recently invited Netanyahu to visit the country and pledged that the warrant would not be enforced on Hungary’s soil.

Terror group Hamas praised the decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, calling it an “important step towards justice.”

Borell stressed that countries which choose not to comply with the warrant could potentially face consequences.

The EU diplomat continued to rail against the Jewish State, claiming that Israel uses claims of antisemitism to deflect legitimate criticism of its actions.

“Every time someone disagrees with the policy of one Israeli government [they are] accused of antisemitism. I have the right to criticize the decisions of the Israeli government, be it Mr. Netanyahu or someone else, without being accused of antisemitism. This is not acceptable. That’s enough,” Borell said.

Earlier in November, Borell urged the European Union to cut ties with Israel due to alleged human rights violations in the Gaza Strip.

In March, Borell accused Israel of “provoking famine” in the Gaza Strip, while calling the coastal enclave the world’s “greatest open-air prison” and “greatest open-air graveyard.”