International Criminal Court being politicized, says Edelstein
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein on Monday denounced what he described as “the politicization” of the International Criminal Court in The Hague and said he is actively lobbying other governments to stop the phenomenon.
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said last month there was “a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed in the context of the 2014 hostilities in Gaza” by the IDF, along with Israel’s settlement policies in the West Bank and the IDF’s response to the Gaza border protests staged during 2018 and 2019.
“The outrageous approach of that lady from Gambia is perceived not just in Israel as the total politicization of the ICC,” Edelstein said in reference to Bensouda during an address at the Conference of President’s annual leadership mission in Jerusalem.
Edelstein referenced his recent visit to Germany two weeks ago, where he spoke with senior government officials as part of Israeli diplomatic attempts to stop the ICC prosecution advancing.
He said Germany “definitely, historically,” sees the ICC as the institution that is supposed to prevent war crimes and violations of human rights, and as such plays an important international role.
“I said, ‘Let’s do something together to not let those who are trying to turn the ICC into what the UN Human Rights Council and different international bodies have turned themselves into,’” Edelstein said in reference to the rampant politicization of the UN body.
Last week, it was reported that six countries filed amicus briefs to the ICC, asking permission to present legal arguments against the tribunal’s jurisdiction to adjudicate warcrimes suits against Israel.
Those countries included Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Brazil.
“The Czech Republic was the first, then Germany, and then others, and they expressed their approach loud and clear,” Edelstein said on Monday. “I hope it will put an end to [the attempt to] turn the ICC into another political body and present a danger to Israeli soldiers and political leaders. This is something we want to avoid in every possible way.