Romania Invites Israeli PM for Intergovernmental Meeting Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to an intergovernmental meeting in Bucharest, which may indicate Romania's intention not to comply with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Călacu wrote about this on the social network X.

Ciolacu noted that Romania and Israel are actively working on organising a joint government meeting and that he personally invited Netanyahu to take part in it.

‘Romania and Israel have relations of strategic importance, and solidarity is part of our ties. We will continue our joint efforts to promote peace and security and to implement the various economic and security projects that I have agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu,’ he wrote.

At the same time, Cholaku did not mention the arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Netanyahu on charges of crimes committed in Gaza. As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Romania is legally obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he is on its territory.

Historically, Romania has maintained close ties with Israel. During the Cold War, it was the only communist country to maintain diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. In 2018, Romania announced its intention to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

On 17 October 2023, during his previous mandate as prime minister, Ciolacu became the first foreign leader to visit Israel after the Hamas attack on Israel.

The International Criminal Court has previously stated that it relies on member states to enforce its decisions.