ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich

Darwin, 21 May: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a secret arrest warrant against him over alleged involvement in settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Smotrich said the warrant had been issued by what he described as “the antisemitic court in The Hague.”

“Last night (Monday), the antisemitic court in The Hague issued a secret arrest warrant against me,” Smotrich said, adding that he had learned the warrant was issued at the request of the ICC’s chief prosecutor.

He strongly condemned the reported move, saying, “By issuing an arrest warrant against me, the ICC has effectively declared war on Israel. They want Israel to commit security suicide, which is why these warrants and sanctions are being imposed.”

Smotrich also accused parts of Europe of maintaining what he called a hypocritical and biased stance toward Israel and Jewish people.

According to a report by the Israeli daily Haaretz, citing sources, the ICC issued arrest warrants against three officers of the Israel Defense Forces and two Israeli politicians over allegations linked to settlement expansion and housing projects for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, allegedly in defiance of international restrictions. Smotrich is reportedly one of the two politicians named.

Meanwhile, UK-based outlet Middle East Eye reported on Monday, citing sources, that the other politician named in the warrants is Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has also been actively involved in promoting Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank.

The identities of the three IDF officers named in the alleged warrants have not been disclosed, and the exact date of issuance remains unclear.

At Monday’s press conference, Smotrich defended Jewish settlement claims in the West Bank, stating that the Jewish scriptures, including the Torah and the Bible, identify Judea and Samaria — the biblical names for the occupied West Bank — as the homeland of the Jewish people.
“We are simply trying to reclaim our homeland,” he said.

The report was originally cited from Turkey-based news agency Anadolu Agency.