House Votes To Sanction ICC Over Netanyahu's Arrest Warrant

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Facts

• The US House voted 247-155 Tuesday to pass a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) for seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.¹
• The vote is reportedly the House's first move against the ICC's top prosecutor, Karim Khan, who had requested arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas leaders last month.²
• Khan had recommended war crimes and crimes against humanity charges against Netanyahu, which a three-judge panel is expected to hear and determine the action on.³
• The bill, titled the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, calls the ICC 'a massive threat to US sovereignty' and bars its officials' entry into the US.⁴
• However, the bill — reportedly opposed by Pres. Joe Biden — may not become law as the Senate is controlled by Democrats who don't support the sanctions.⁴
• Despite Biden's opposition, 42 Democrats crossed party lines to help the GOP pass the bill, which would also impose financial restrictions on officials involved in the case.⁵

Sources: ¹ABC News, ²Guardian, ³NBC, ⁴BBC News and ⁵New York Times.

Narratives

• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The New Arab. Biden's opposition to the bill punishing the ICC for its prosecutor's ridiculous move to seek Netanyahu's arrest is surprising, given the bipartisan support the US is supposed to have extended to Israel. Israel isn't an aggressor, and Netanyahu isn't a criminal. Failure of the bill due to a lack of support from the top would send a muddled message to Israelis and the world.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Human Rights Watch. The importance of the ICC's role in addressing international crimes needs to be emphasized at this moment in history, keeping in mind the context of the US' own support and assistance to the organization. Biden must reject legislative efforts to undermine the ICC and reaffirm America's support for independent international justice mechanisms.

Predictions