The US State Department is demanding that the International Criminal Court (ICC) reject Palestinian membership on the grounds that “Palestine is not a state” and that the application is therefore unacceptable.
The comments echo those from Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, though as neither Israel nor the US is a ratified member of the ICC, neither necessarily has much pull, and the UN has already confirmed Palestine’s membership will be active effective April 1.
The argument is not true either, at least not in a way that seriously matter. Palestine is already listed as a “non-member observer state” by the United Nations, and the Palestinian Authority, the applicant, is the provisional government of that state.
Though in practice Palestine’s territory is unclear (and under military occupation), its status as a de jure state doesn’t seem to be under serious question.
And for all the state that israel allegedly is, they depend on the largesse of the American taxpayer (who pays against his will) and continue to steal the lands of others.
The US has no credentials to speak on matters concerning the governance of the ICC as it has not placed itself under the jurisdiction of that court. Until such time as it accomplishes this, it has no voice.
Thanks to Caesar-Saladin for his accurate note. The U.S. State Dept should have to answer the question as to who made Israel a state? I think that the Palestinians have more justification to statehood than Israel does. Without the corrupt and cowardly U.S. govt. Israel would rapidly go the way of all flesh.
The Obama regime claims that the Palestinians can not sue Israel for war crimes because they don't have a state, why? Because last month the Obama regime voted against a Palestinian state …
US not a member of the ICC: You don't play the game, you don't get to make the rules.
Exactly. Ditto Israel.
If the ICC were to find Israeli officials guilty of war crimes, then are not those who armed these war criminals also by extension guilty of war crimes?
This has all the makings of a juicy little episode. Of course, the US/Israel will never allow the ICC to actually investigate (the US/Israel will never submit to ICC investigators – which is why they've never ratified the treaty), but the optics will be especially delicious.
I eagerly look forward to a day when ICC trials are begun against Israeli and American official complicit with Israel in their dealings respecting Palestine. Netanyahu swinging from a gallows along with Leiberman would be the first steps toward justice.
So, the US takes a position that as long as Israel denies Palestine statehood, Israel can commit all the war crimes they want. That is like saying that as long as King George III prevented the formation of the United States, any crimes committed by his soldiers against the colonists were perfectly legal!
The subtitle for this article would more appropriately be something like "I'll have my order of hypocrisy to go". They're conveniently forgetting that this "non state" has the bomb. I guess nationhood isn't a requirement to join the "nuclear club".
The Palestinian 'non-state' has the bomb?
> “The comments echo those from Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu…”
As once again the “israeli” tail wags the American dog…
Is US a State?
Anyway US is no member of the ICC; so piss off Yankee!