Israeli media outlets have discussed the state of anxiety prevailing in Israel after the ICC decisions to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, which has caused it to face an unprecedented diplomatic and legal crisis with increasing isolation and fears of the repercussions of the decisions.

International law expert Professor Amichai Cohen Shalom said that Israel has become a "mangy state" that countries fear establishing relations with.

In an in-depth analysis of the situation, Channel 12 political affairs analyst Guy Peleg said that Netanyahu seeks to play the role of the victim locally and globally, adding that the prime minister "sees himself as the center of the universe and that everyone revolves around him."

He added that "Netanyahu is now ranked globally with Putin, Milosevic and Gaddafi."

Regarding the possibility of avoiding this situation, the political affairs correspondent for Channel 11 quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that establishing an official investigation committee could have prevented the issuance of arrest warrants.

But Channel 18 political analyst Amnon Abramovitch doubted this.

Right-wing government precedents

Abramovitch added that "under the absolute right-wing government" Israel has witnessed three serious precedents: "the first mass massacre", international arrest warrants, and the abandonment of prisoners.

He called for a realistic view of the international situation, especially in international resolutions related to Palestine and the settlements.

For her part, Kan 11 military affairs correspondent Carmela Menashe pointed to the concerns of the security services and the army about the existence of secret arrest warrants that have not yet been activated that may affect senior military leaders, including the Chief of Staff and commanders of military divisions.

Regarding possible solutions, Professor Cohen Shalom explained that Israel can submit requests to the court, especially regarding the opening of an independent and real investigation through an official commission of inquiry, and not political investigations, and he also pointed to the possibility that these decisions will affect arms exports to Israel.

In light of these developments, analysts point out that Israel is facing an unprecedented diplomatic and legal crisis as its international isolation increases and fears grow about the repercussions of the International Criminal Court’s decisions against its political and military leaders.

Source: Al Jazeera