US Objects to ICC Decision on Palestinian Territories

Arab World

February 6th, 7:48am

Asharq Al-Awsat

The International Criminal Court building is seen in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan. 16, 2019. Reuters

The United States objects to a decision by the International Criminal Court on Friday that found the court has jurisdiction over war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories, a State Department spokesman said Friday. "The United States objects to today's @IntlCrimCourt decision regarding the Palestinian situation,” Ned Price wrote on Twitter. "We will continue to uphold President Biden's strong commitment to Israel and its security, including opposing actions that seek to target Israel unfairly," Price added. Judges at the ICC on Friday found the court has jurisdiction over war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories, paving the way for a possible criminal investigation, despite Israeli objections. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said her office was studying the decision and would decide what to do next "guided strictly by its independent and impartial mandate" to prosecute grave war crimes and atrocities when countries are unable or unwilling to do so themselves. The ICC judges said their decision was based on the fact that Palestine has been granted membership to the tribunal's founding treaty, and had referred the situation to the court. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the decision, saying in a video statement: "When the ICC investigates Israel for fake war crimes, this is pure antisemitism."

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2788236/us-objects-icc-decision-palestinian-territories