The arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday are expected to prompt significant behavioral changes within Israel's security forces, particularly the IDF, from Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi down to the last soldier, especially those operating on the ground.
The need for this behavioral shift arises from the fact that the issuance of such warrants against Israel's highest-ranking official sets a precedent with a dual effect: attempts to arrest Israeli security personnel abroad and an increase in legal actions against Israel by international judicial bodies.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan's announcement on pursuing arrest warrants against Israeli officials
(Video: ICC )
Firstly, pro-Palestinian and extreme progressive organizations are almost certain to intensify their efforts to arrest senior officers, Israeli combatants and anyone directly or indirectly linked to Israel's security apparatus while abroad.
The second effect will manifest in courts worldwide, specifically in Europe, North America and South America. While these warrants may not serve as specific legal grounds for cases involving IDF officers or other security personnel, they will make courts more inclined to accept requests from Israel’s adversaries in international legal proceedings.
In essence, the ICC's decision regarding the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant has removed both legal and psychological barriers that previously led to the rejection of arrest requests against senior Israeli officers.
These barriers have now been significantly lowered, creating a new and threatening reality. The decision also effectively opens a new judicial and political front against Israel and its residents on the international stage, exposing many Israelis to potential legal harassment and persecution when traveling abroad.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, the ICC
(Photo: Haim Goldberg/Flash90, REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo)
It’s crucial, therefore, to quickly adapt to this new reality and draw the necessary conclusions: the IDF must drastically change its policies regarding the public appearances and visibility of its senior officers, particularly from combat units, at public events abroad and early announcements of such events.
As for soldiers and politicians, they must completely stop sharing photos, posts and even legitimate combative political statements on social media, as well as in traditional media —especially on international outlets.
Global databases are already filled with addresses and photos of officers and soldiers of all ranks, which pro-Palestinian organizations and extreme left-wing individuals can easily use to identify targets for lawsuits alleging participation in so-called war crimes.
Behavior abroad must be low-profile and most importantly, the narcissistic frenzy on social media must end. The IDF must enforce strict disciplinary measures against soldiers who publish any information about their activities on various battlefields.
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IDF Chief of Staff LTG Herzi Halevi (left) in Lebanon
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
This issue should be treated with the same gravity and importance as operational military discipline, which requires soldiers to avoid endangering themselves and their comrades.
We are entering an unprecedented era and need to adjust to it rapidly. At the same time, Israel must equip the Foreign Ministry and its institutions operating in the international arena, such as the Jewish Agency and fundraising organizations, with rapid-response protocols to address and foil any attempt to harm or issue arrest warrants against Israeli security personnel.
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Additionally, an intensive diplomatic effort is needed to ensure that courts in Europe and other vulnerable regions are less inclined to issue arrest warrants at the behest of various organizations, such as the BDS, which aim to politically harm Israel and challenge its legitimacy as a sovereign state with the right to self-defense.
Action must be swift, and in this context, the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may provide a more effective means of countering these legal attacks abroad than is currently available.