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00:00After the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced on Tuesday, many diplomatic
00:05questions have been raised.
00:07Among them, will France comply with the International Criminal Court if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
00:13Netanyahu steps foot on French soil?
00:16The ICC issued an arrest warrant last week for Netanyahu, as well as for his former defence
00:21minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas' military chief Mohamed Daif.
00:25The Israeli pair is wanted for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
00:29And all 124 countries that are members of the court are expected to arrest wanted people
00:35who enter their territory.
00:37A rule that France at first implied that it would follow, before putting out a statement
00:41declaring that Israeli lawmakers were exempt from arrest, as Israel isn't a member of the
00:46court that tries individuals for the most serious international crimes.
00:51The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrault, avoided giving a straight answer.
00:56France is very attached to international justice and that the ICC is able to work in total
01:01independence.
01:02So you would respect international law?
01:04Does that mean that he would be arrested if he set foot in France?
01:09As always, France will apply international law which is based on its obligations to cooperate
01:14with the International Criminal Court, obligations arising from its accession to the Rome Statute,
01:21which provides for and deals with issues of immunity for some leaders.
01:25In any event, it is ultimately up to the judicial authorities to decide.
01:32Through its historic ties with Lebanon, France, together with the United States, played a
01:36key role in brokering the ceasefire deal after Beirut requested its support.
01:41We along with France and others will provide the necessary assistance to make sure this
01:45deal is implemented fully and effectively.
01:49With the lack of a straightforward answer, one point is clear.
01:53France is carrying out a balancing act, treading carefully not to damage its diplomatic ties
01:57with both Lebanon and with Israel.
02:00Human rights group Amnesty International has said that the country's position is quote
02:04deeply problematic.
02:07It's urged France to state that people under a warrant would be arrested on its territory.