PA asks ICC to probe ‘settler crimes’

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki on Monday handed prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda a file documenting “settler terrorism,” including Friday’s firebombing in Duma, and called on the court to launch an investigation into the situation in the Palestinian territories, accusing Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Malki, who met with Bensadou in The Hague, said the presentation was made on instructions from PA President Mahmoud Abbas. In June, the PA had presented another file concerning the settlements to the court.

In addition, he briefed the ICC prosecutor on the “dangerous developments” in the Palestinian territories, especially the arson attack in the West Bank village of Duma on Friday that killed Palestinian toddler Ali Dawabsha and seriously injured his parents and four-year old brother.

The continuation of “occupation” and settlements paved the way for such crimes, Malki said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon have said they are determined to find the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice. The Security Cabinet on Sunday authorized a number of steps, including the use of administrative detentions, so law officials could move quickly against the attackers.

An Israeli official on Monday said the ICC was established to deal with situations where there was no legal system in place to handle such attacks and, therefor, the Palestinians are a more logical subject for an ICC investigation given the Palestinian Authority’s failure to pursue those who commit terror attacks against Israelis.

Ya’alon condemned Jewish terror on Monday, saying, “We intend to fight Jewish terror with determination and without compromise.

“This is a struggle over the character of the state of Israel and we have no intention of giving up this fight.”

Ya’alon continued by stating that he intended to push for administrative detention of Jewish terrorists, in order to send a message to the citizens of Israel.

“This method will be one of steps taken to strike Jewish terrorism in order to bring them to justice and protect the democracy of Israel and its citizens.”

Tovah Lazaroff and Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.