Friedrich Merz Invites Netanyahu to Germany Amid ICC Arrest Warrant Controversy

Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor, has stirred controversy by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Germany despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed his determination to ensure Netanyahu could visit without the threat of arrest, calling the situation "completely absurd" and emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions.

Merz made the statement after his conservatives secured the largest share of the vote in Germany's national election. "We will find ways and means for him to visit Germany and leave again without being arrested," Merz assured Netanyahu during a phone call, according to sources from both parties. This invitation comes in the context of a complex legal situation, as the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.

The ICC, based in The Hague, is the only permanent international tribunal tasked with prosecuting war crimes, and as a signatory of the court's founding treaty, Germany is obligated to enforce arrest warrants issued by the ICC. This has led to tension between Germany's obligations to international law and Merz's strong pro-Israel stance, with many in Germany viewing Israel through the lens of its historical ties to the country due to the Holocaust.

Netanyahu’s office responded to Merz's invitation with gratitude, noting the invitation was made "in defiance of the scandalous ICC decision." Israel has long rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction and denies any wrongdoing in Gaza, further complicating the matter.

Germany’s position is further strained by the involvement of other figures subject to ICC arrest warrants, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, for the deportation of children from Ukraine. The Left Party, one of the prominent opposition groups in Germany, criticized Merz's invitation, calling it a "disaster" and accusing him of double standards.

The Left's co-leader, Jan van Aken, argued that the same legal principle must apply to all individuals with outstanding ICC warrants, including Putin and Netanyahu. "If Vladimir Putin comes to Germany, then this arrest warrant must be implemented. The same applies to Netanyahu," van Aken said.