International Courant
WASHINGTON
US Senator Lindsey Graham raised concern Tuesday over the Worldwide Legal Court docket (ICC) prosecutor’s utility for arrest warrants for senior Israeli officers, saying “in the event that they do that to Israel, we’re subsequent.”
“Hopefully, collectively, we are going to discover a approach to relaxation our displeasure with the ICC as a result of in the event that they do that to Israel, we’re subsequent,” Graham mentioned whereas US Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified earlier than a Senate appropriations subcommittee listening to.
“On the finish of the day right here, what I hope to occur is that we stage sanctions towards the ICC for this outrage to not solely assist our buddies in Israel however shield ourselves over time,” Graham added.
“I welcome working with you on that,” Blinken responded when requested by Graham whether or not he would assist sanctioning the ICC.
Blinken additionally advised lawmakers Tuesday that the State Division will work with Congress to develop an “acceptable response” after ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan filed purposes for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Protection Minister Yoav Gallant.
“Sen. Risch, in brief, let’s take a look at it. We need to work with you on a bipartisan foundation to search out an acceptable response. I am dedicated to doing that,” Blinken mentioned beneath questioning from Sen. Jim Risch, the Senate International Relations Committee’s high Republican.
“As you say, the satan’s within the particulars, so let’s examine what you bought. And we will take it from there,” he added.
Blinken’s feedback mark the strongest sign of a shift throughout the Biden administration after the White Home on April 30 pushed again towards threats from US lawmakers to retaliate towards the Court docket’s officers, their households and associates if the ICC points arrest warrants for Israeli officers.
The Biden administration has maintained that the Court docket lacks jurisdiction over Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Whereas Israel is just not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding doc, Palestine acceded in 2015.
Whereas the Biden administration has rejected the Court docket’s jurisdiction over Israel as a result of it’s not a signatory to the Rome Statute, it lauded the ICC’s resolution to problem arrest warrants for senior Russian officers together with President Vladimir Putin for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. Like Israel, Russia can also be a non-signatory to the Rome Statute.
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