Fire Trudeau for backing arrest of Netanyahu, says Canada opposition leader

Prime minister said his government would follow ICC ruling, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime minister on Canadian soil

Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
The head of Canada’s opposition has called for Justin Trudeau to be fired for saying his government would abide by an international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.
Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, which will take on Mr Trudeau’s Liberals in next year’s election, criticised Canadian premier for his “extreme” views.
“He’s interested in arresting the leader of a democratically-elected government, the state of Israel, which has been besieged by terrorists and foreign tyrants attacking its land,” Mr Poiliever said in a radio interview in Canada.
“That’s why we need to fire him and get back to a common-sense Conservative government that will stand with all our allies against terrorism and tyrants.”
Iddo Moed, the Israeli ambassador to Canada, also attacked Canada’s promise to abide by the warrants.
“We urge the Canadian government to stand firm in its support of Israel’s right to defend itself by rejecting and condemning the ICC’s decision,” Moed said in a statement.
Mr Trudeau said on Friday that Canada would follow the rulings of the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant having to arrest the Israeli prime minister on Canadian soil.
“We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts,” Mr Trudeau said. “This is just who we are as Canadians.”
Mélanie Joly, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, supported the prime minister’s position, saying: “We need accountability in our world, and so, based on that, Canada will abide by its obligation under the ICC treaty.”
On Thursday, the ICC also issued arrest warrants for Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli defence minister, and Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military chief, for alleged war crimes.
The ICC’s decision provoked a global diplomatic firestorm as countries scramble to determine whether and how they would enforce its warrants.
Downing Street has indicated it would go along with the ICC’s decision, but has not committed to this directly in outright terms.
A spokesman for Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said the UK would “always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law, and indeed international law”.
The stance is in opposition to that of the US, a long-time ally of the UK and Canada. Joe Biden, the US president, blasted the ICC arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu as “outrageous”.
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email