#Israel #Threatens #Reply #Palestinian #Government #ICC #Hunts #Netanyahu
CNN Indonesia
Thursday, 02 May 2024 19:20 IWST
Illustration. Israel threatens to retaliate against Palestine if the ICC seizes Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest warrant Photo: heathertruett/Pixabay
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Israel threatened to retaliate against the Palestinian government if the International Criminal CourtICC) hunt for the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Two Israeli and United States officials said the Zionist government had told Washington that it would not remain silent if Netanyahu was wanted by the ICC.
They said the Palestinian government pressured ICC prosecutors to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, starting with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief Herzi Halevi.
If the ICC actually issues the warrant, Israel will hold the Palestinian government accountable and take firm action that could bring them “collapse”.
One such measure could be freezing the transfer of tax revenues collected by Israel to the Palestinian Authority. These funds are very important for Palestine. Without this, the Palestinian Authority will go bankrupt.
The White House and Netanyahu’s office have so far declined to comment. The Palestinian Authority also had not responded until this news was published.
Rumors about Netanyahu’s arrest by the ICC have been loud for some time.
Axios reported that this issue also arose when Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden held a telephone conversation last week.
According to two US officials, Biden told Netanyahu that reports by Israeli media, Channel 12, which said the US would give the ICC the green light to detain Netanyahu were not true.
Biden assured Netanyahu that Washington opposes an ICC investigation into Palestine.
Two US officials on the other hand also said the US government had conveyed to ICC officials privately that the issuance of Netanyahu’s arrest warrant was a mistake and that the US did not support the move.
“We are quietly urging the ICC not to do so. This step will only escalate the situation. Israel will retaliate against the Palestinian Authority,” said the US official.
On Tuesday, White House spokesman John Kirby said that the US opposed an ICC investigation into Israel. However, Washington also does not agree with the threats and intimidation of ICC judges.
The intimidation in question was a threat by members of the US House of Representatives from the Republican Party who wanted to pass legislation regarding the ICC if the body issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
(blq/dna)
