Politics, not law, will decide whether Israel faces war crimes charges
JVL Introduction
The International Criminal Court decision that it has jurisdiction over what happens in all the Palestinian territories is a landmark one.
It means that senior Israeli officials can now be held accountable for violations of the laws of war in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Whether they will be is another matter entirely.
As Jonathan Cook points out, that decision will be political. The new chief prosecutor may be persuaded that Israel – despite decades of law-breaking – is not a high enough priority to justify the court’s limited resources.
And this “persuasion” will take the form of extreme pressure exerted on the Court, not just by Israel, but also by the US and Germany in particular, countries which have their own special reasons for shielding Israel, even if this means glossing over its prima facie war crimes
This article was originally published by jonathan-cook.net on Thu 11 Feb 2021. Read the original here.
Politics, not law, will decide whether Israel faces war crimes charges
An ICC ruling has panicked Israeli officials who can now be investigated, but they will likely respond with intensified threats
Middle East Eye – 11 February 2021
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The arrogant impunity with which Israel, the USA and other states conduct their criminal, lethal behaviour is of course infuriating to lesser breakers of laws. After all, why should anyone even be arrested for domestic violence, child abuse or murder when the UK’s armed forces, Israel’s politicians and Mossad or any American committing crimes against humanity on a huge scale have not the slightest worry that the coppers will be banging on their doors at 7am? To ignore international laws against these egregious offences is to undermine respect for the rule of law. Perhaps campaigners might suggest some mass breaking of a particularly stupid law as a means to draw attention to how people get away with literal murder.
I hope that justice will prevail.
The American Service-Members’ Protection Act (ASPA] authorizes the President of the United States to use “all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court”. This authorization has led the act to be nicknamed the “Hague Invasion Act” Yes US special forces surrounding the ICC building and threatening to shoot the Judges unless the US or Israeli prisoners are released. The act also prohibits U.S. military aid to countries that are party to the court.
One thing is certain all evil expires.
One day peace loving humanists will live side by side worshiping who ever they choose.
Our arrogance on being mighty and powerful is very temporary.
Therefore let us live in peace and harmony.