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U.S. Should Hold the ICC and Palestinian Leaders Accountable

(JNS) David Milstein - The Feb. 5 ruling of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation focused on false allegations of Israeli "war crimes" is the latest development in the Palestinian Authority's diplomatic lawfare campaign against Israel. In response, Washington should take action to impose consequences on the ICC and the Palestinian leadership. The previous U.S. administration had asserted that "any attempt by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute any United States personnel without the consent of the United States, or of personnel of countries that are United States allies and who are not parties to the Rome Statute or have not otherwise consented to ICC jurisdiction, constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States." It imposed sanctions on ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda for launching an illegitimate investigation into alleged "war crimes" by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The PLO office in Washington was closed in compliance with the law that prohibits a PLO office unless the president can certify that the Palestinian leadership is not supporting ICC actions against Israel. Unfortunately, the new administration is working to amend the law that a PLO office in Washington would provide jurisdiction for U.S. courts to hold the PLO and PA accountable in cases where they have already been found liable for supporting terrorism against U.S. citizens. Congress should not change the law and stand with American victims of Palestinian terrorism. The writer served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
2021-02-08 00:00:00
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