Reuters PKP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the International Criminal Court’s issuance of a ruling establishing its jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.
Netanyahu said, “Today the court has proven once again that it is a political institution and not a judicial body … The court ignores the real war crimes and instead is pursuing the State of Israel, which is a country with a strong democratic system that sanctifies the rule of law and is not a member of the court … The court has the right of democratic countries to defend themselves from terrorism while playing in the interest of parties that undermine efforts aimed at expanding the circle of peace .. We will continue to defend our citizens and our soldiers by all means of legal prosecution. “
On Friday, the judges of the International Criminal Court issued a decision that the court, based in The Hague, has jurisdiction over alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories, which opens the way for a possible investigation.
The judges said that the decision was based on the jurisdictional rules stipulated in the court’s founding documents, and does not include any attempt to determine state status or legal boundaries.
For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “the ICC decision on jurisdiction is a historic day for the principle of accountability,” expressing the Palestinians’ willingness to cooperate with the ICC investigation.
Source: RT + Reuters