{"id":826,"date":"2026-05-19T22:39:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T22:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/05\/19\/israel-far-right-finance-minister-says-icc-prosecutor-seeks-arrest-warrant-against-him\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T22:39:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T22:39:37","slug":"israel-far-right-finance-minister-says-icc-prosecutor-seeks-arrest-warrant-against-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=826","title":{"rendered":"Israel far-right finance minister says ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant against him"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--banner-top o-ad-container--with-shimmer o-ad-container--with-background\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><br \/>\n                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-type=\"sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-status=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring__wrapper\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content t-content--article\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-sidebar\">\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">Israel far-right finance minister says ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant against him<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        Israel&#8217;s far-right Finance Minister\u00a0Bezalel Smotrich\u00a0said on Tuesday the International Criminal Court prosecutor had sought an arrest warrant against him, blaming the Palestinian Authority for the move. Smotrich said Israel would respond by ordering the evacuation of the Palestinian Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank.                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-05-19T22:21:22+00:00\">20\/05\/2026 &#8211; 00:21<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-reading-time\">\n    <span class=\"a-reading-time__icon\" title=\"Reading time\"><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span><br \/>\n    2 min    <span class=\"u-sr-only\">Reading time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/france-24\/\" title=\"FRANCE 24\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                FRANCE 24<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/9a32f4f0-5398-11f1-b667-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/5c61e804812f30219688cda66d68a2a76d21e629.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/9a32f4f0-5398-11f1-b667-005056a97e36\/w:388\/p:16x9\/5c61e804812f30219688cda66d68a2a76d21e629.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/9a32f4f0-5398-11f1-b667-005056a97e36\/w:720\/p:16x9\/5c61e804812f30219688cda66d68a2a76d21e629.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/9a32f4f0-5398-11f1-b667-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/5c61e804812f30219688cda66d68a2a76d21e629.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would force the evacuation of a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank after hearing that he was to be targeted by an ICC arrest warrant.\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>Israel&#8217;s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would force the evacuation of a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank after hearing that he was to be targeted by an ICC arrest warrant<\/span>                <span>\u00a9 Ilia YEFIMOVICH, AFP<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Israel<\/a>&#8216;s far-right finance minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/bezalel-smotrich\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Bezalel Smotrich<\/a> said Tuesday that the International Criminal Court prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant against him, accusing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/palestinian-authority\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Palestinian Authority<\/a> of pushing for the move.<\/p>\n<p>Smotrich said he would retaliate by ordering the evacuation of the Palestinian Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/west-bank\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">West Bank<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Last night I was informed that the criminal prosecutor of the antisemitic court in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/the-hague\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">The Hague<\/a> has filed a request for an international arrest warrant against me,&#8221; Smotrich told a news conference broadcast on his X account Monday.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As a sovereign and independent state, we do not accept hypocritical dictates from biased bodies that time and again take a stand against the State of Israel,&#8221; he added, without disclosing the charges for which the warrant has been requested.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0ICC\u00a0prosecutor&#8217;s office said it was &#8220;unable to comment on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/media\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">media<\/a> speculation or questions related to any alleged application for a warrant of arrest&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2024, the\u00a0ICC\u00a0issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, to face accusations of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/war-crimes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">war crimes<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/crimes-against-humanity\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">crimes against humanity<\/a> over Israel&#8217;s actions during its war against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/hamas\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Hamas<\/a> in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/europe\/20260511-eu-approves-new-sanctions-on-israeli-settlers-over-west-bank-violence-palestinians\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">EU approves new sanctions on Israeli settlers over West Bank violence<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Declaration of war&#8217;\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;Immediately upon the conclusion of my remarks here, we will sign an order to evacuate Khan al-Ahmar,&#8221; Smotrich said, calling the warrant request &#8220;a declaration of war&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>More than 750 people live in the community of Khan al-Ahmar, around 10 kilometres east of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/jerusalem\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Jerusalem<\/a>&#8216;s Old City in the central West Bank and surrounded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/israeli-settlements\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Israeli settlements<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Palestinian Authority&#8217;s Settlement and Wall Resistance Commission urged the international community to stop the move.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Targeting Khan al-Ahmar is part of a long-term strategic settlement project&#8230; through which Israel seeks to create complete settlement contiguity that would separate the northern West Bank from its south,&#8221; the commission&#8217;s minister, Muayad Shaaban, was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n<p>Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog, also denounced the move.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Minister of Expulsion and Annexation seeks to take revenge on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/the-hague\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">The Hague<\/a> and the international community at the expense of one of the most vulnerable communities,&#8221; it said.<\/p>\n<p>Khan al-Ahmar sits near land Israel plans to use for its controversial E1 development project that would facilitate settlement expansion in the area near Jerusalem.<\/p>\n<p>Smotrich, who lives in a settlement himself, is a staunch proponent of Israel annexing the West Bank.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Under this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/government\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">government<\/a>, we see that for the first time they&#8217;ve approved the very sensitive and significant plan of E1, and they&#8217;re going ahead with plans to annex that entire region,&#8221; Lior Amihai, Peace Now&#8217;s executive director, told AFP.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In order for them to annex the entire region, they need to also expel the Palestinian communities from there and Khan al-Ahmar is one of them,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p><em>(FRANCE 24 with AFP)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><br \/>\n                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Israel\">    Israel<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/icc\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"ICC\">    ICC<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/bezalel-smotrich\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Bezalel Smotrich\">    Bezalel Smotrich<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/israeli-settlements\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Israeli settlements\">    Israeli settlements<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertising Israel far-right finance minister says ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant against him Middle East&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}