“The International Criminal Court in The Hague has no authority to investigate the matter,” U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said tonight (Wednesday). Price referred to the plaintiff’s decision in the court, which was made earlier today, to open an investigation against Israel for war crimes allegedly committed in the territories of Gaza, East Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria since June 2014.
Price added: “We oppose the plaintiff’s decision in The Hague and are disappointed with it. We will continue our commitment to Israel and oppose moves that harm Israel.” In addition, he referred to the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on the tribunal and was asked if they were likely to continue, saying, “We are looking into the matter.”
Price summed up his remarks by saying, “We are concerned about the tribunal’s attempt to exercise its authority over Israeli citizens. The Palestinians do not meet the definition of a state, and therefore cannot function as a member state in the tribunal. The prosecutor said she wants to make an assessment before deciding how to proceed. She said that jurisdiction between the law should be reserved for countries that have agreed to ratification, or have been referred by the UN Security Council.
Joe Biden (Photo: REUTERS / Tom Brenner)The tribunal’s decision today received a series of harsh condemnations from all corners of the political spectrum in Israel, and even an official response from the ombudsman. “As previously reported, the Attorney General’s position is that the International Criminal Court lacks any authority in this matter. Renowned lawyers, but the majority judges in their decision as well as the plaintiff in her statement today chose to ignore many of the weighty legal allegations raised in this regard.
The decision of the panel of judges, as well as the plaintiff’s notice, recognize themselves that issues of principle concerning the jurisdiction of the tribunal remain unresolved. This matter in itself shows how wrong the decision to proceed with the investigation in relation to Israel is and lacks the solid legal basis required, according to the plaintiff herself, in order to proceed in this matter.
The State of Israel is a strong democracy with an independent and professional legal system. The State of Israel is committed to the fundamental values of international law and acts in light of them. Moreover, Israel has an extensive system for examining allegations of alleged violations of international law, and it knows how to independently examine allegations of violations of law. For this reason, too, there is no room for the court to intervene in matters devoted to the sovereign authority of the State of Israel. “
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He said of the decision: “The State of Israel is under attack tonight. The International Court of Justice in The Hague has made a decision that is the essence of anti-Semitism and the essence of hypocrisy. It ruled that our heroic and moral soldiers who fight against the most cruel terrorists on earth are war criminals. “This is a war crime. The tribunal set up to prevent the recurrence of the atrocities committed by the Nazis against the Jewish people is now turning against the state of the Jewish people.”
Netanyahu also said tonight: “Of course he does not say a word against Iran and Syria and other dictatorial regimes that are committing real war crimes in the mornings. For years we have worked hard against leaders and governments against this intention, To do – to fight for the truth in all countries, on all stages, in all forums. To protect every soldier and soldier, every commander and commander and every citizen and citizen. And I promise you, we will fight for the truth until we cancel this scandalous decision. “
the president Reuben (Ruby) Rivlin He said: “The decision of the Hague Tribunal to open an investigation against the State of Israel is scandalous. We will not accept the allegations against the exercise of our right and duty to protect our citizens. The State of Israel is a strong, Jewish and democratic state that knows how to defend itself and interrogate itself if necessary. We are proud of our soldiers. “Our sons and daughters, the flesh and blood of our country, who stand guard over their country generation after generation as a wall in a way against those who seek our evil.
Former Foreign Minister and Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, Said tonight: “The plaintiff’s decision to open an investigation is an act of moral and legal bankruptcy. It is a plaintiff’s political decision at the end of her term, and an attempt to set priorities for her successor, making the tribunal a tool by extremists and giving backing to terrorist organizations and antisemitic bodies. That the murderous terrorist organization, Hamas, welcomes the decision, indicates more than anything that it is devoid of any moral validity. Israel is a democratic state with an independent and effective legal system, which is not a member of the court at all. The decision to open an investigation against Israel is beyond the court’s mandate. The international community by a biased institution that has lost all legitimacy, and acts as a political and non-judicial body. The plaintiff’s decision will only contribute to the polarization between the parties, and alienates the dialogue necessary to resolve the conflict. “For countries that consider it important to protect the international legal system from politicization, to reject the plaintiff’s decision and not to cooperate with it.”
The former Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff, among others in Operation Eitan, Bnei Gantz He said in an interview with Ben Caspit and Aryeh Eldad on 103FM: “It has been said that a court will not help, not even in The Hague. This is a top-level legal-political paradox. The State of Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East that applies very strict international rules. As the one who managed several systems as chief of staff and defense minister, I can unequivocally state that we protect the State of Israel and its security, while doing so in the light of international law, unlike our enemies who trample on human rights and commit horrific crimes around the world. . I have never heard such a paradox. We will continue to protect the citizens of Israel and will continue to act in a moral and legal manner as required. This is an event that is politically tailored, I do not see any point in researching the issue. We are not a banana republic and there is a law here that stands by us. We are prepared at the level of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist in this matter. “
The Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Kochavi Spring He said: “We will not allow any foreign institution without authority to intervene in our activities for the defense of Israel, certainly not to put the IDF servants at legal risk.”