Israel Urges Canadian PM Carney to Drop Pledge to Arrest Netanyahu

Jerusalem, Oct 21: Israel has urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to retract his recent statement affirming that he would honour the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit Canada. The statement has sparked fresh diplomatic tensions between the two nations, with Israel calling on Ottawa to reconsider what it described as a “deeply misguided” stance.

Carney made the remarks during an interview with Bloomberg last week. When asked whether his government would follow through on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s commitment to arrest Netanyahu on war crimes charges should he set foot in Canada, Carney replied, “Yes.” The comment drew immediate condemnation from Israel, which does not recognise the ICC’s authority over its actions in the Gaza conflict.

“We believe that Prime Minister Carney should, of course, reconsider this and welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu, the leader of the only Jewish state and democratic country in the Middle East, to Canada,” Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters on Monday. Bedrosian stressed that such a stance undermines the longstanding friendship and democratic values shared between Israel and Canada.

The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, issued arrest warrants last year for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials on charges of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The warrants have been widely criticised by Israel and several of its allies, who argue that the ICC has overstepped its jurisdiction and displayed bias in its handling of the conflict.

Israel has consistently rejected accusations of war crimes, maintaining that its military actions in Gaza are acts of self-defence in response to Hamas attacks. The Israeli government has accused the ICC of “politicising justice” and ignoring the context of terrorism faced by the Israeli population.

Bedrosian further criticised Canada’s recent foreign policy decisions, including its formal recognition of a Palestinian state earlier this year. “Canada’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state was a prize for terrorism,” she said, adding that the move “only poured fuel on an antisemitic fire in Canada.”

Analysts note that Carney’s statement signals a significant shift in Canada’s Middle East policy, which under previous governments maintained strong ties with Israel while supporting a negotiated two-state solution. Critics within Canada have warned that such a position could strain bilateral relations and limit Ottawa’s diplomatic leverage in future peace negotiations.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office has not yet issued an official response to Israel’s remarks. However, Carney’s government has reiterated its commitment to upholding international law and supporting the independence of global institutions like the ICC.

Diplomatic observers suggest that the dispute may complicate Israel’s relations not only with Canada but also with other Western allies that are parties to the Rome Statute — the treaty that established the ICC. As tensions over Gaza continue, Israel’s call for Carney to drop his pledge reflects broader concerns about international legal challenges and their impact on its global standing.