WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed legislation Tuesday that would punish International Penal Court for seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.
The 247-155 vote marks Congress’ first legislative rebuke of the war crimes tribunal since its creation. surprising decision last month to seek arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas. The move was widely denounced in Washington, creating a rare moment of unity in Israel even as partisan divisions over the war with Hamas intensified.
With the House bill expected to pass Tuesday, it managed to attract only modest Democratic support, despite a wave of outrage over the Court’s decision, which blunted its chances in the Senate . The White House opposes the legislation, calling it excessive.
Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Foreign Relations Committee acknowledged that the bill in question was unlikely to become law and left the door open for further negotiations with the White House. They said it would be better if Congress united against the Hague tribunal.
“We are always strongest, especially in this commission, when we speak with one voice as a nation, in this case to the ICC and to the judges,” said Republican Rep. Mike McCaul, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, during the parliamentary session. debate. “A partisan messaging bill was not my intention here, but that’s where we are. »
State Department spokesman Matt Miller reiterated the administration’s opposition to the sanctions bill.
“We have made it clear that, while we oppose the decision made by the ICC prosecutor, we do not believe it is appropriate, especially while investigations are underway in Israel on the same issues, and we We were willing to work with Congress on what a response might look like, but we do not support sanctions,” Miller said.
The House bill would impose sweeping economic sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals and judges associated with the ICC, including their family members. Democrats called the approach “overly broad,” warning that it could trap Americans and American businesses that do important work with the Court.
“This bill would have a chilling effect on the ICC as an institution, which could hamper the Court’s efforts to prosecute the many atrocities that have been perpetrated in many places around the world, from Ukraine to Uganda,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top official. Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The legislation reprimanding the ICC was just the latest show of support from House Republicans for Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that sparked the war. Republicans have held several Israel-related votes in recent months, highlighting divisions among Democrats over support for the U.S. ally.
Congressional leaders have invited Netanyahu to speak at a joint meeting of Congress this summer, potentially further inflaming tensions over Israel’s handling of the war. Many Democrats are expected to boycott the speech.
The ICC and the United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, have begun investigating allegations that Israel and Hamas committed genocide during the seven-month war.
Last month, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan indicted Netanyahu, his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders – Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh – war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the ICC decision as shameful and anti-Semitic. President Joe Biden and members of Congress also blasted the prosecutor and supported Israel’s right to defend itself.
Israel is not a member of the court, so even if arrest warrants are issued, Netanyahu and Gallant face no immediate risk of prosecution. But the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Israeli leaders to travel abroad.
“Failure to act here in Congress would make us complicit in the ICC’s illegitimate actions and we must not remain silent,” McCaul said. “We must stand with our allies.”
News Source : apnews.com
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