The International Criminal Court (ICC) has crossed a dangerous line by issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These baseless accusations of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” are nothing more than politically motivated attacks against Israel’s right to self-defense.
By targeting Israel, the ICC continues its longstanding bias, ignoring real atrocities committed by terrorist groups like Hamas. Such selective justice undermines the integrity of international law and enables terror organizations.
The court, which has no jurisdiction over Israel, is misusing its authority to hinder a democratic nation, endangering global security and jeopardizing Israel’s ability to collaborate with allies.
Highlighting the broader implications of this decision, Senator Lindsey Graham warned U.S. allies like Canada, Britain, and France that they could face sanctions if they enforce these illegitimate warrants. “If we do not fight back… we’re next,” he declared, emphasizing the urgent need for Congress to act decisively to counter the ICC’s overreach.
The focus must now be on President Biden taking decisive action to counter the ICC’s overreach. He must immediately sign a new Executive Order reinstating sanctions on those aiding the ICC’s illegitimate efforts to prosecute Israelis or Americans.
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SANCTION THE ICC PROSECUTORS, JUDGES AND STAFF
Last Thursday you joined countless Americans, including many public officials, in expressing your outrage toward the ICC judges that issued, without basis, arrest warrants against PM Netanyahu and former DM Gallant for allegedly having directed the commission of war crimes in Gaza. While we appreciate your statement, we note that certain of your prior acts and failures to act played a significant part in the ICC’s unlawful rulings.
Neither the US nor Israel is a party to the Rome Convention which established the ICC; and neither nation is subject to the ICC’s jurisdiction. Nevertheless, in June 2020, when the ICC prosecutors threatened to investigate American military members for war crimes in Afghanistan, President Trump signed Executive Order 13928 (“EO 13928”), which required the US to impose sanctions on ICC staff if the ICC issued arrest warrants against leaders or personnel of the US or US allies (including Israel). Soon after EO 13928 was signed, the ICC prosecutors ended their investigation of the US military.
Unfortunately, upon becoming President you canceled EO 13928. In a press statement, Secretary Blinken explained that you deemed sanctions to be “inappropriate and ineffective”. Moreover, even after ICC chief prosecutor Kahn announced this past May that he was seeking arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, you refused to sign a new executive order imposing sanctions against the ICC, and you opposed the bill passed by the House providing for such sanctions. Secretary Blinken again stated that it was preferable to persuade the ICC to reverse course through dialogue.The ICC’s unlawful and unforgivable acts have already caused Israel much damage. Time is of the essence. We urge you to immediately sign a new Executive Order sanctioning the ICC, or direct Senator Schumer to bring S.224 to a Senate vote so that it can be passed, and signed into law by you.
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