The State Department has warned it intends to “review” all aid provided to the Palestinian Authority in the wake of their bid to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying the bid would have “implications.”
Congress has already mandated that all aid to the Palestinians be cut off if they attempt to file a single claim against the Israeli occupation, though clearly the US often ignores its own law with respect to aid provision at any rate.
The US has made it clear they oppose ICC membership for the Palestinians, though there does not seem to be any particular reason for the ICC to deny them membership.
The Palestinian Authority decided to pursue the bid after their failed attempt to pass a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation at the UN Security Council, which the US vetoed at Israeli behest.
These people must think it's their duty to ruin whatever little reputation the US has left. One of the good things the Palestinian effort causes is that it will continue to shine light on America's (the world's sole superpower, the indispensable nation) subservience to some miserable piece of desert.
You are soo right. America's or rather rhe USG reputation has fallen so far that it has reached the lowest depth of HELL.
The Country is now run by the spawn of all evil.
Fine- if the US cuts off financial aid to Palestine, there are any number of others waiting in the wings (hello Russia, China, or…Iran) who I'm sure would love to step up to the plate and trade some infrastructure and nation-building in exchange for some choice real estate on which to place an observation post with its eyes and ears directed towards Israel, and maybe a small military mission to safeguard the incoming civilian contractors. Oh, yes, please Washington- you go right on ahead and step back and see what and who fills that void.
“UN Security Council, which the US vetoed at Israeli behest”
In Israel, a dozen family dynasties have a monopoly on the economy such that they hire most all of the politicians as paid actors. And as the identical situation holds true for Empire USA but on a much larger scale, it can hardly be said that one nation rules another, for it’s High Society and by gentlemen’s agreement, by friendly persuasion, all must be accomplished.
And as Abbas and his Palestine Authority take their orders from the same corporate rich, as the few million that it takes to fund the PA is nothing compared to the billions needed to end poverty in Palestine, surely this issue is pure stupidity to even contemplate.
In the words of the great Satan; The occupation and the ethnic cleansing must continue unabated.
So two nations that refuse to recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC – US and Israel – one of which "unsigned" the ICC agreement shortly after signing it, then passed legislation to authorize an attack on the Hague if any US citizen was put on trial (the US), now threaten to retaliate if Palestinians proceed with actions that are entirely legal and peaceful – because it "threatens the (non existent) peace process." http://www.globalissues.org/article/490/united-st…
Even Kafka's head would be spinning…
"…US has made it clear they oppose ICC membership for the Palestinians…"
For a country that is not a participant of the ICC, having not ratified the treaty, it takes a large set to demand that another country be denied membership. But then that is the way the USG operates now – "do what WE say, not what WE do." After all, we are EXCEPTIONAL(ly arrogant).
Exactly!
The Palestinians should tell the US what to do with our "aid"! Talk about snake oil?!
The US and Israel say that this can only be resolved at the negotiation table but if the Palestinians fall for that line of s–t they'll still be negotiating 25 years from now with nothing having ever been resolved. The very idea that the Netanyahu government wants sincere negotiations is laughable. Their strategy is to stall and stall and stall as long as they possibly can all the while building more settlements on the West Bank. And this is not about resolving anything, this is about answering for war crimes. Two very different issues.
Israel says if the Palestinians bring charges of war crimes against Israel then they will do the same. We'll bring it on. Let's put BOTH sides under the microscope. The only ones whom have anything to fear on BOTH sides are those that have committed war crimes, right? Let the chips fall where they may.
This is very smart on the part of the Palestinians, fighting back with non-violence. They are finally learning. This is long overdue.
I am Jewish by the way, and Netanyahu makes me sick!
It should be remembered that Rabin and Arafat signed the Oslo Accords which in principle endorsed working toward a two state solution. It was a right wing settler nut case that assassinated Rabin, not a Palestinian. To those who say "these people don't want peace", they are looking into a mirror and seeing their own reflection.
There's that angry stock picture of Obama again Jason. Ya think maybe it's more than just Obama making the decisions? Ya think maybe your whole government are a bunch of corrupt warmongers?
ICC prosecutes only black rulers — Not a one of that color in Israel
The ICC was created by white bigots most prejudice in Empire USA, as it is used only against rulers in Africa who oppose our Empire expansion.
To the best of my knowledge, so if your wisdom is greater let us know.
Pressure, force and misery most hateful
Comes now Israel to freeze millions in tax money due and owed Palestine, to threaten law suites against Palestine rulers and to make it clear that signing up with the International Criminal Court is the root cause of such brutal imperialism.