Benjamin Netanyahu's push to influence ICC chief after leaked recordings
Newly released recordings show Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham weeks before the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024. The duo discussed drafting a bipartisan letter from American lawmakers to question ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan’s conduct and to pressure the court. The letter was sent on 1 November 2024, but the ICC still issued the warrants on 21 November 2024. Khan was later removed from his post after a two‑year harassment investigation.
The video, filmed by British documentary‑maker Alex Holder, also captured Netanyahu calling former Slovenian prime minister Robert Golob “the most hated European leader.” Golob responded publicly, saying he was proud of the comment. The recordings were first reported by The New York Times and have been corroborated by several outlets.
Entities: Benjamin Netanyahu · International Criminal Court · Karim Khan · Lindsey Graham · Robert Golob
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was removed from his post after a two‑year harassment investigation. (43a65958-8cdc-4cda-98ed-a16229ccac2c)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Recordings captured a conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham weeks before ICC issued arrest warrants. (43a65958-8cdc-4cda-98ed-a16229ccac2c, 714f739b-431c-4f2f-ad6b-cd447571967b, a3bd2b04-6896-4f9e-9a7b-d7f4e00eb314)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The bipartisan letter was sent on 1 November 2024. (43a65958-8cdc-4cda-98ed-a16229ccac2c)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Robert Golob responded to the remark, saying he was proud of being called the most hated European leader. (714f739b-431c-4f2f-ad6b-cd447571967b, a3bd2b04-6896-4f9e-9a7b-d7f4e00eb314)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on 21 November 2024. (43a65958-8cdc-4cda-98ed-a16229ccac2c)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The recordings were filmed by British documentary‑maker Alex Holder as part of a project following Lindsey Graham’s relationship with Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. (43a65958-8cdc-4cda-98ed-a16229ccac2c)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Netanyahu and Graham discussed drafting a bipartisan letter from U.S. lawmakers to protest ICC proceedings and question prosecutor Karim Khan's conduct. (43a65958-8cdc-4cda-98ed-a16229ccac2c, 714f739b-431c-4f2f-ad6b-cd447571967b, a3bd2b04-6896-4f9e-9a7b-d7f4e00eb314)
- [● 2 SOURCES] In the leaked video, Netanyahu called former Slovenian prime minister Robert Golob “the most hated European leader.” (714f739b-431c-4f2f-ad6b-cd447571967b, a3bd2b04-6896-4f9e-9a7b-d7f4e00eb314)