Merz’s Visit to Netanyahu Risks Germany’s Credibility on Justice

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to visit Israel on December 6th and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the gaza Strip, including the deliberate starvation of the civilian population and attacks on civilians.

Merz is putting Germany’s credibility on justice at risk.

Germany is an ICC member and recently assisted in the landmark transfer to the court of the first suspect in the ICC’s ongoing investigation in Libya. The ICC relies on countries to execute warrants when suspects are within their borders.

Germany’s cooperation in the Libya case exemplifies the support international justice needs.

This support is particularly crucial now, as the ICC faces threats. Russia has issued arrest warrants for court officials and ICC prosecutors and judges – along with human rights defenders advocating for justice – have been placed under punitive US financial sanctions, specifically regarding the case against Netanyahu.

merz would be the first German Chancellor to publicly meet with an ICC fugitive, undermining Germany’s commitment to the court.

The ICC is the court of last resort.