What Macron Agreed to in Exchange for Not Arresting Netanyahu

French President Emmanuel Macron has agreed not to execute the International Criminal Court's (ICC) order to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in exchange for France's role in the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. This was reported by the French publication Le Point, citing sources close to the French leader.

According to the publication, shortly after the issuance of the arrest orders, Macron called Netanyahu and stated that Paris is obligated to respect the ICC and fully cooperate with it. At the same time, Macron reportedly added that the ICC provisions allow for cases of immunity concerning the court's arrest warrants.

The two sides discussed the situation surrounding the ceasefire in Lebanon. They agreed that Paris would play a significant role in the monitoring committee for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which regulates the situation along the Israel-Lebanon border. It was noted that during the phone conversation, the last disagreements between France and Israel were resolved.

“Granting Netanyahu immunity was the price for France to play a role in the agreement regarding Lebanon,” an Israeli source told the publication.

Earlier, the French Foreign Ministry announced that Netanyahu would not be arrested on French territory despite the ICC orders. The statement emphasized that under French law, Netanyahu and other ministers hold immunity, which would be taken into account if a request for their arrest and extradition were made to the ICC.

On the morning of November 27, the first ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon came into effect since the start of military operations in October 2023. With the approval of both sides, a committee will be established to monitor the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which will include the U.S., France, and the United Kingdom.

On November 21, the ICC announced it had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed from October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024, in the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip.