Controversial ICC lawyer who sought arrest warrant against Netanyahu outraged President Biden
Karim Khan has been a highly controversial figure since becoming chief war crimes prosecutor at the International Criminal Court three years ago.
His decision to seek an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marked the first time an ICC prosecutor targeted a leader of a close Western ally, outraged President Joe Biden.
He acted amid claims by the Guardian that Israeli Mossad spies have been waging a secret ‘war’ against the court for nine years.
The newspaper claimed that the Mossad had intercepted emails, attachments and text messages from Mr Khan and other officials in his office.
An Israeli military spokesman denied the accusation.
Karim Khan has been a highly controversial figure since becoming chief war crimes prosecutor at the International Criminal Court
The decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marked the first time an ICC prosecutor targeted a leader of a close Western ally, outraged President Joe Biden.
The Israeli prime minister’s arrest warrant was sought amid claims that Israeli Mossad spies have been waging a secret “war” against the court for nine years – which an Israeli military spokesman denied.
But last night Mr Khan said he and the court have been subjected to “a wide range of attacks and threats”, adding: “In recent months my family, including my wife and child, have also been targeted.”
Born in Edinburgh to a British mother and a Pakistani father, he grew up in Yorkshire, where his father worked as a consultant dermatologist.
He attended Silcoates School in West Yorkshire, where fees amount to £19,600 a year.
After studying law at King’s College London, he became a barrister and worked for the Crown Prosecution Service for two years before turning to international law.
Although he was backed by Britain for the position of prosecutor at the ICC, his suitability was questioned as he defended Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president convicted of war crimes by a special court for Sierra Leone.
He also represented William Ruto, Kenya’s current president, who was accused of orchestrating violence that killed 1,300 people. The case was abandoned.
The arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have yet to be approved by the ICC judges.
If issued, all 124 countries that signed the treaty that created the court, including Britain, would have a duty to arrest Mr Netanyahu if he enters their territory. The US is not a signatory.