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Senators want Biden administration to denounce ICC’s Israel decision

Senators Rob Portman and Ben Cardin are circulating a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking him to denounce the ICC's decision it has jurisdiction to investigate war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Last month, the International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed that it had jurisdiction over war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. Two Senators are now circulating a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking him to denounce the decision.

A copy of the letter, which was written by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), was obtained by the Jewish Insider (JI). “The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision constitutes a dangerous politicization of the Court and distorts the purposes for which the Court was established,” it reads. “As the world’s only permanent international criminal tribunal, the ICC is intended as a court of last resort for the prosecution of the most serious atrocities, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The Pre-Trial Chamber’s ruling creates an exception for the Court to investigate Israel, even while it is unable or unwilling to address some of the most urgent human rights cases in the world today, including those in Iran, Syria, and China.”

A source told JI that the letter has already been signed by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Susan Collins (R-ME). It will remain circulating until the end of this week.

The investigation has caused an uproar among Israel’s political leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the country will “fight this perversion of justice with all our might” and denounced the allegations as “fake war crimes” and “pure antisemitism.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said the ruling “distorts international law and turns this institution into a political tool of anti-Israel propaganda.”

The Biden administration has said they oppose such an investigation and, although they indicated that they would lift the Trump administrations sanctions on ICC prosecutors, they have yet to act. A recent letter, signed by over 70 human rights organizations, urges Biden to live up to that promise. The letter refers to the sanctions as, “an abuse of the US government’s financial powers… and those who engage with the court, including human rights defenders and victims.”

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I guess they have got generous campaign contributions that compels them to protect the nation they put above their own, and above the need for justice for the downtrodden. It seems these members of Congress cannot get out of the habit of acting outraged, or fighting to prevent Israel’s crimes from being exposed, and from being held accountable. The fact that they do not show the same outrage for the on going occupation, land theft, and the killing of unarmed civilians, especially young kids, is very noticeable, and totally unacceptable, but they do not care. Palestinians are too poor to contribute to their campaigns.

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The ZOA is in a state of shock!!

Zionist Organization of America denounces selection of Betty McCollum as chair of House defense committee – EJP (ejpress.org)

“Zionist Organization of America denounces selection of Betty McCollum as chair of House defense committee” European Jewish Press, by Yossi Lempkowicz, Feb. 28/21

“A BDS supporter, she has accused Israel of ‘apartheid’ and was one of the few members of Congress to vote against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which aimed to curb and defund Hamas.”

“The Zionist Organization of America blasted what it called the ‘frightening selection’ of Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) as chair of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense.

“McCollum, a supporter of the BDS movement, has accused Israel of ‘apartheid,’ during a keynote speech to the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, a group with links to U.S.-designated terror groups. She is also well-known for repeatedly proposing legislation that would cut U.S. assistance to Israel due to its alleged mistreatment of Palestinian children.

“She was also one of the few members of Congress to vote against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which aimed to curb and defund Hamas. She has also accused AIPAC of being a ‘hate group’ and urged its boycott. The watchdog group StopAntisemitism.org has previously named Rep. McCollum as ‘Anti-Semite of the Week’ and dubbed her ‘BDS Betty’ for her anti-Israel positions.

“The Subcommittee on Defense is a powerful House committee that has jurisdiction over the budget of the U.S. Defense Department. Every military spending measure must be approved by the committee before being passed by the larger House. (cont’d)

.

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“’Rep. McCollum’s appointment as chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee places her in a position to do enormous damage to Israel, U.S. foreign policy and vital Israeli-U.S. cooperation on developing defense systems that benefit both countries,’ said ZOA national president Mort Klein, ZOA chair Mark Levenson, ZOA director of government relations Dan Pollak and ZOA director of special projects Elizabeth Berney in a statement.

“’McCollum will no doubt block and/or insert onerous requirements for Israel to ‘prove’ herself to be innocent of spurious charges, in order to thwart aid to and military cooperation with Israel. McCollum’s new position is thus a major threat to U.S. and Israeli security. Congress needs to remove McCollum from this position.”

By continuously turning a blind eye to israel’s nefarious behaviour towards Palestinians…it becomes guilty by association.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-icc-prosecutor-says-will-open-investigation-into-war-crimes-in-palestinian-territori-1.9586293?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=breaking-news&utm_content=38fbad885f

Haaretz, March 3/21

EXCERPT:
“International Criminal Court Prosecutor Says Will Open Formal Investigation Into War Crimes in Palestinian Territories”

“Fatou Bensouda said in a statement the probe will be conducted ‘independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favor.'”