Belgium would not arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the country, according to his Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever. “I don’t think there is any European country that would arrest Netanyahu,” he told VRT’s Terzake talk show on Thursday evening.
Okay sure I’m not gonna say he’s wrong because sure given that arresting the head of state of a powerful nation would carry immense consequences I can believe that most countries would just rather not do it, no matter the severity of the crimes, as he said that’s just realpolitik.
But to freely admit that you would ignore your legal obligations when you didn’t have to is just so fucking stupid!
My point of view on this is that the ICC is an arm of the rules based global order, which was constructed by and in the interest of “the west”. Which means this statement delegitimizes the ICC therefore degrading western interests, so it real damn idiotic for the leader of Belgium to say this since it’s essentially the capital of “the west”! Politicians may have a reputation for doublespeak but that’s because there are a great many truths you simply can’t say if you want to further your political interests.
De Wever is a Republican fanboi, I really wish he sticked to peddling “anti-woke” book rather than be our PM.
But atleast all other parties called him out on not speaking for the government, and one of them basically said that if a judge secides to go ahead and arrest Netanyahu, Bartje can go pound sand.
immense how? Israel couldnt really do much of anything to Belgium.
Tell that to Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, etc.
And that’s just the overt attacks.
Right, those are all countries nearby to Israel. Explain to me how Israel attacks Belgium – roughly a peer power which is 4700 km away after flying armed military aircraft over much of Europe to get there? Not to mention flying home afterward.
Or do you mean by terrorist acts, which Israel uses pretty freely, right. I dont think terrorism in Europe is going to end up very well for Israel either.
Or maybe you mean nukes? Thats also going to result in Israel being glassed over relatively instantly isnt it. France wont tolerate nukes going off on its border for some bs Israeli fascist racist reason. Belgium is quite safe from Israeli tantrums.
Not for nothing but Israel has a long history of sending assassination squads and terrorist units into other countries. Not that I think that should stop anybody, but I mean it’s got to be a concern right?
So… Uh… That rules based international order never had much legitimacy in the first place. Basically everyone outside the West knew it was window dressing for the very much unchanged might makes right stuff. Israel in particular has ignored that shit for ages so… uh… yeah.