Italy on Tuesday said there were "many doubts" about an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it was not feasible to arrest him as long as he remained in charge of the government.

In a vague statement, the foreign ministry said France would 'respect its international obligations' but added that the Israeli leader was covered by immunity rules that apply to states that are not a party to the ICC.

The slow, often grinding machinery of international law has just received a push along with the issuing of three arrest warrants by the International