White House opposes Palestine’s bid to sue Israel

The White House has expressed opposition to a bid by the Palestinian Authority to prosecute Israel for war crimes in Gaza.

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki has submitted a dossier to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The files detailed Israeli war crimes in Gaza and its illegal construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The files were prepared by a 45-member committee, appointed by President Mahmoud Abbas in February, and chaired by Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) negotiator Saeb Erekat.

They complement a preliminary investigation done by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda into probable crimes on Palestinian territory.

The United States has “made clear that we oppose actions against Israel at the ICC as counterproductive,” National Security Council spokesman Alistair Baskey said on Thursday.

"We do not believe the Palestinians are eligible to accede to the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court," added Baskey.

In addition, two US lawmakers warned on Thursday that the US would suspend its economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

“By formally submitting allegations against Israeli forces to the ICC Chief Prosecutor, President [Mahmoud] Abbas has triggered a provision in US law that suspends all economic assistance to the PA,” said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

Also, Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) put forward a bill that would include instructions for the assistance in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

On Thursday, she sent out a reminder that the directive includes possible limitations on the US financial support to the Palestinian Authority.

Israel also criticized the move, calling it an “attempt to manipulate and politicize the judicial mechanisms of the ICC.”

A separate investigation by the United Nations Human Rights Council has accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza War last summer.

The Tel Aviv regime started its latest aggression against the Gaza Strip in early July 2014. The war, which lasted for 50 days, claimed the lives of over 2,130 Palestinians, including many children and women, and injured some 11,000 others.

AT/AT

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