Day: 22 November 2024

Today’s world news briefing is dominated by Netanyahu, from his rants of the arrest warrant antisemitic to his chances of escaping prosecution at home and abroad, we bring you the inside scoop of what the politicians and strategists are doing behind the scenes.

A lot is being made of this ‘long range missiles’ but there is a red line that neither party will cross. However, it does look like the Biden administration is keen to use as much ammo as possible before he leaves office.

This will be a watershed moment for Starmer, as a former barrister, chomping at the succeed of his legal accomplishments, but if he takes a stance which is perceived as ‘against the rule of law’ he will lose even more credibility.

Although the majority of EU nations, have said they would honour the warrant, in most cases it is just lip service, because the chances of Netanyahu actually travelling to any of these countries is very slim.

Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s initial pick for attorney general ahead of his White House return, has withdrawn from consideration for the post. Trump’s decision to choose Gaetz shocked Washington and the country.

Gaetz had faced significant scrutiny over a previous federal investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl that cast doubt over his ability to be confirmed as the country’s top legal official.

He has also been under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over wider allegations including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and accepting improper gifts.

The top newspapers in the United States all lead with the news of Gaetz’s withdrawal.

The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. The ICC says both men – alongside a Hamas leader who was killed in July – bore “criminal responsibility” for crimes during the war between Israel and Hamas. The court accuses Israel of using starvation as a war tactic and for intentionally targeting civilians.

European leaders mixed reaction EU

Despite Hungary’s resistance, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and France have signalled that they would respect the court’s decision and potentially arrest Netanyahu if he travelled to one of their countries.

Netanyahu’s office described the warrants as “an antisemitic decision … equivalent to the modern Dreyfus trial”, referring to the 1894 trial of a French artillery captain of Jewish descent that has become one of the most prominent examples of antisemitism.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday he would invite Benjamin Netanyahu to visit his country and that he would guarantee that an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister would “not be observed.”

It is of little comfort for the Palestinian people – but it does seem that a ceasefire, of sorts, is within sight. What happens after that, not even Mr Trump knows, because there is no plan for “the day after” the fighting winds down. The rubblescape of Gaza and Lebanon has created not just unspeakable horrors and miseries, but a vast political vacuum.