Israel’s Air Force One took 400km detour to dodge ICC arrest trap 

Israel’s ‘Wings of Zion,’ the nation’s equivalent of Air Force One, reportedly extended its flight by 400 kilometers on Sunday. The detour from Hungary to Washington avoided ICC-compliant nations.

An Israeli newspaper reported the plane skirted Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands. These countries might enforce an ICC warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged “war crimes” in Gaza.

The rerouting followed Netanyahu’s official visit to Budapest. There, he met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with full honors, but the ICC soon demanded his arrest on Thursday. Hungary rejected the ICC’s request outright. Instead, it announced its withdrawal from the court, aligning firmly with Israel.

The aircraft, a secondhand Boeing from Qantas modified by Israeli Aerospace Industries by 2019, is a flying fortress. It boasts Elbit System’s C-MUSIC laser to counter missiles, plus cybersecurity and satellite communications.

Any attempt to intercept it would face stiff resistance. Its upgrades reflect its purpose: protecting Israel’s leadership in hostile environments.

Belgium also hesitated to enforce the ICC warrant. Prime Minister Bart De Wever spoke on VLT Television Friday, saying, “I don’t think we would do that either, to be completely honest.” He added, “There is such a thing as realpolitik. Practical considerations prevail over ethical ones.” Wever noted, “I don’t think a single European country would arrest Netanyahu on its soil. France wouldn’t, and I don’t think we would either.”

The detour and diplomatic responses underscore the challenges of pursuing Netanyahu. His travel—next to Washington—continues despite the ICC’s efforts.