Israel: Palestinians ‘Started Legal Warfare’ by Joining ICC
On January 6, the United Nations announced its acceptance of the Palestinian Authority’s request to join the International Criminal Court. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon confirmed the PA will join the court on April 1. This will allow Palestinians to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel.
Charges will likely focus on incidents during last year’s 50-day war between Israel and the Islamic terrorist group in Gaza, Hamas. According to the International Criminal Court’s 2002 charter, the PA could also raise charges against Israel for its settlement activities.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon responded to the UN’s announcement: “The Palestinians have started a legal warfare, which is not useful to peace, and we call upon the Palestinians and also upon the important members of the international community to make sure that this will not happen. At the end of the day the Palestinians may easily find themselves on the bench of the accused at this international tribunal since the Palestinian Authority is now in a national unity government with a terror organization.”
UN investigators reported that Hamas has committed war crimes by indiscriminately firing rockets and mortar rounds at Israeli civilians, and also by launching attacks from civilian areas in Gaza. Hamas terrorists have carried out similar attacks for more than a decade. Israel says it launched the last operation against Gaza to stop the rocket attacks. Hamas defends itself by saying it is resisting illegal occupation by Israel.
The icc is a court of last resort. It will only step in if it believes war-crimes allegations are not investigated properly at the state level.
The United States opposes the Palestinian Authority’s acceptance into the International Criminal Court because the PA is not a sovereign state.
Based on Bible prophecy, the Trumpet proclaims that these recent maneuvers by the PA will not resolve its conflict with Israel. The ongoing conflict will eventually lead to the Palestinians taking control of half of Jerusalem. For more information on this statement, view our Key of David program “Watch Jerusalem.”
