Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to meet with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his visit to “Israel” on `saturday, a decision provoked by Labour’s recent decision to renounce the United Kingdom’s objections to the Internationcal Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his Security Minister, Yoav Gallant.
The UK reportedly requested several meetings with Netanyahu, all of which were rejected under claims of “scheduling conflicts”.
According to Israeli Channel 13, Lammy’s visit primarly aimed at discussing the impending retaliatory attacks by Hezbollah and Iran, as “Israel” hoped to gain London’s support in countering any response.
Last month, Labour premier Keir Starmer decided to drop the Tory governments delays on the issuance of arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for international war crimes in Gaza.
The court is still studying whether it has the jurisdiction to issue these arrest warrants, an unusual situation that lacks a legal precedent.
Israeli officials familiar with the matter told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that diplomatic pressure is being exerted on the ICC to delay the issuance of the warrants against the Israeli prime minister and his security minister. Yet, the same officials are unsure if these measures will affect the court’s final decision.
Source: AlMayadeen
