Berlin rejected appeals from Israel’s envoy, Ron Prosor, urging the German government to defy the ICC’s order.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration rebuffed the appeal made by Prosor on social media. When asked about the possibility of executing an ICC arrest order against Prime Minister Netanyahu for alleged war crimes, Scholz’s spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, affirmed that Germany would adhere to the law and comply with the order.
Three European countries to recognize a Palestinian state
Norway, Ireland, and Spain declared their intention on Wednesday to recognize an independent Palestinian state on May 28, with hopes of encouraging other Western nations to do the same. Israel responded by recalling its ambassadors.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg emphasized the importance of maintaining a path towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians, stressing the need for two states coexisting peacefully.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that their recognition aimed to expedite efforts for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, urging other Western nations to join in.
Ministers from Arab nations are scheduled to meet with European Union counterparts in Brussels on Monday to collaborate on ending the Gaza conflict and fostering lasting peace.
The meeting will include representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Sven Koopmans, the EU’s special representative for the Middle East peace process.
The meeting, part of ongoing efforts between Arab and European nations, aims to establish unified positions on ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Koopmans emphasized the goal of building a coalition to contribute collectively to peace efforts without isolating any party.
Despite these efforts, divisions within the EU remain evident, as seen in the differing stances of member states like Spain, Ireland, Norway, France, and Germany regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state amid the ongoing conflict.
