Keir Starmer warned that pandering to ICC over call for Netanyahu’s arrest risks rift between UK & US
PANDERING to the International Criminal Court risks a rift between Britain and Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer was warned yesterday.
It came as Downing Street signalled that the PM would comply with an ICC warrant to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he travelled to the UK.
A No10 spokesman said: “The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law.”
It saw Downing Street insisting that Israel remains an important “ally” – while refusing to rule out putting its PM in handcuffs.
Senior Trump allies reacted with fury to the ICC judgment, following President Biden branding it “outrageous”.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham yesterday threatened to introduce a Bill punishing states that follow ICC diktats.
The Senator said: “I will be introducing legislation that puts other countries on notice – If you aid and abet the ICC after their action against the State of Israel, you can expect consequences from the United States.
“Any nation that joins with the ICC after this outrage is a partner in a reckless act that tramples the rule of law.”
Incoming Senate Republican Leader John Thune pledged to bring a Bill to Capitol Hill sanctioning the ICC.
He said: “The ICC’s arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Gallant is outrageous, unlawful, and dangerous.”
Sir Keir’s spokesman said work had been done to build bridges with Trump’s team amid fears of a fresh row with the US, which is not an ICC member.
Under the ICC Act, if Netanyahu steps foot in Britain, a Cabinet Minister – most likely Foreign Secretary David Lammy – must seek the warrant from a domestic court.
On Friday an onslaught of foreign leaders blasted the ruling by the foreign “kangaroo” court.
Austrian Prime Minister Alexander Schallenberg said: “The ICC decision is utterly incomprehensible.
“This decision is a disservice to the Court‘s credibility.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said: “The ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable.
“I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety.”
Both the outgoing-Joe Biden and incoming-Donald Trump administrations slammed the ruling, with some Republican senators even vowing repercussions for any state that complies with it.
Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: “The ICC has disgraced itself with clear bias and Starmer has shown he is kowtowing to global institutions to the detriment of our key international relationships.”
Yesterday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper refused to say whether she would greenlight Mr Netanyahu being locked up in Britain.
She told Sky News: “That’s not a matter for me as Home Secretary.
“The International Criminal Court is of course independent and we respect its independence and the role that it has.”
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Labour’s position is absurd.
“By accepting the decision of this Kangaroo Court, Starmer and Lammy risk weakening our relationship with our most important ally again.
“Starmer can’t say whether the leader of an ally of the UK would be arrested on arrival at Heathrow, but he’s happy to shake hands with the tyrannical Xi Jinping.
“It’s madness.”