The Cabinet estimated "very likely" - within 90 days the International Court of Justice will open an investigation against Israel • Meaning: Seniors may be detained abroad and extradited to The Hague • Hungary has sided with Israel: "The court has no authority to hear the case against Israel, we share its concerns "

• The International Court of Justice in The Hague // Photo: Reuters

At a security-political cabinet meeting last Wednesday, very difficult scenarios were presented in case the ICC decides to open an investigation against Israelis. The possibility was presented that the tribunal would issue secret international arrest warrants against those who it suspected.

Recall that a month ago, the Chief Prosecutor of the Tribunal recommended launching investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed by Israelis and Hamas activists. The plaintiff, Pato Bensuda, sought the approval of the tribunal judges to open investigations, and allocated 120 days.

The International Court of Justice will investigate war crimes in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip

The professional rank gave ministers an overview of the tribunal, its history and its operations. Among other things, it was emphasized that it was established as a lesson from the Holocaust during World War II. It was considered "very likely" that the three tribunal judges would adopt the plaintiff's position, and shoot the investigations against Israeli officials.

The professionals emphasized that the risks were imminent, because the mere opening of the investigation - a move that could occur within 90 days - would have very serious implications for Israel. As mentioned, the possibility was presented that the tribunal would issue secret international arrest warrants against those who it suspected.

Also, any Israeli senior who was involved in promoting Israeli construction in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria may be in danger of being arrested without knowing it. According to the assessment presented in the hearing, Israel's greater risk is precisely the issue of construction in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, for legal reasons.

At risk of extradition? Netanyahu, Gantz and Ya'alon in Operation Protective Edge // Photo: Kobi Gideon - GPO

"Danger requiring response"

This means that Israeli officials who visit the Member States in the tribunal may be detained by the authorities there and be extradited to the Hague Tribunal, even without knowing that an arrest warrant has been issued against them. These are the heads of state, IDF commanders, officers and soldiers who fought with or after an operation. Also, those who took part in stopping the riots initiated by Hamas at the border fence. It should be noted that apart from the US and Russia, the vast majority of the world's most important countries are members of the tribunal, This includes all Western European, Canadian, Australian, Latin American and most African countries.

Another difficult challenge discussed at the meeting is the image and economic harm that Israel will be exposed to if an investigation is launched against it. In such a case, the Palestinians and their supporters are expected to press international business firms to refrain from operating in Israel because it is supposedly "a country suspected of committing war crimes." In addition, they may renew the pressure on artists and culturalists not to arrive in Israel, as happened at the height of the delegitimization attack against Israel.

Later, the ministers were presented with options for dealing with the challenge. The professional rank reported the efforts made in recent years to convince the plaintiff not to initiate investigations - efforts that failed.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Cizerto // Photo: Oren Ben Hakun

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Hungary supports Israel

Another chapter in the sitting was dedicated to the difficult fight between the tribunal and the Trump administration. After the prosecutor announced that US troops were investigating incidents in Afghanistan, the Trump administration decided to deny U.S. court visas and threatened further sanctions. A few days later, the judges announced no justification for the investigation. However, the prosecutor appealed the decision and now The case is in the court of appeal.

Later, the ministers discussed the options for dealing with the tribunal. At this stage, Israel is using political tools to mobilize its friendship in the world by asking the tribunal to refrain from launching investigations against Israel. The first to respond to the request for Israeli aid was Hungary, whose foreign minister, Petr Cizerto, wrote to his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz that "the Tribunal has no authority to hear the case against Israel. Hungary shares Israel's concerns about the court's politicization." Katz thanked the Hungarian Minister for his position.

Sources exposed to the Cabinet meeting's contents told Israel Today that it was made clear that the threat posed was not in the long term but very severe and immediate, and therefore requires a powerful and special mobilization. "The very opening of the investigation will put us together with the darkest countries in Africa, where truly horrific war crimes have been committed to kill thousands of people. This is intolerable. This tribunal does not discuss what is happening in Syria, Iran or China, but put us in its direction. This is a danger that requires a quick and crushing response, "said the proficient in the discussion content.

Another factor noted that in the current situation, Israel will have a very difficult time preventing the investigations alone, and that significant assistance from the US is required.