France says it will work closely with Netanyahu despite ICC arrest warrant

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00:00After the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced on Tuesday, many diplomatic

00:05questions have been raised.

00:07Among them, will France comply with the International Criminal Court if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin

00:13Netanyahu steps foot on French soil?

00:16The ICC issued an arrest warrant last week for Netanyahu, as well as for his former defence

00:21minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas' military chief Mohamed Daif.

00:25The Israeli pair is wanted for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

00:29And all 124 countries that are members of the court are expected to arrest wanted people

00:35who enter their territory.

00:37A rule that France at first implied that it would follow, before putting out a statement

00:41declaring that Israeli lawmakers were exempt from arrest, as Israel isn't a member of the

00:46court that tries individuals for the most serious international crimes.

00:51The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrault, avoided giving a straight answer.

00:56France is very attached to international justice and that the ICC is able to work in total

01:01independence.

01:02So you would respect international law?

01:04Does that mean that he would be arrested if he set foot in France?

01:09As always, France will apply international law which is based on its obligations to cooperate

01:14with the International Criminal Court, obligations arising from its accession to the Rome Statute,

01:21which provides for and deals with issues of immunity for some leaders.

01:25In any event, it is ultimately up to the judicial authorities to decide.

01:32Through its historic ties with Lebanon, France, together with the United States, played a

01:36key role in brokering the ceasefire deal after Beirut requested its support.

01:41We along with France and others will provide the necessary assistance to make sure this

01:45deal is implemented fully and effectively.

01:49With the lack of a straightforward answer, one point is clear.

01:53France is carrying out a balancing act, treading carefully not to damage its diplomatic ties

01:57with both Lebanon and with Israel.

02:00Human rights group Amnesty International has said that the country's position is quote

02:04deeply problematic.

02:07It's urged France to state that people under a warrant would be arrested on its territory.

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