The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant has provoked a strong reaction among US Republican lawmakers. Many of them have accused the ICC of bias and anti-Semitism, and representatives of Donald Trump’s future administration are promising to take tough action against the court.
Al-Monitor writes about this.
Mike Waltz, who will become Trump’s national security adviser, said the ICC is not “trustworthy” and has an “anti-Semitic bias.” Senator Tom Cotton called ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan a “deranged bigot” and the court’s decision a “disgrace.”
Possible actions by the Trump administration could include sanctions against ICC officials, similar to actions taken during his first term. Restrictions were then placed on prosecutor Fatou Bensouda for attempting to investigate the actions of the US military in Afghanistan. Karim Khan may now be subject to sanctions, which will create difficulties for his movement as well as access to banking services, including in the UK.
Senator Lindsey Graham has proposed going even further and punishing countries that comply with ICC orders. This could affect all states that have ratified the Rome Statute, including the United States’ European allies.
Some members of Congress, such as President Mike Johnson, are calling for immediate passage of the Wrongful Convictions Act. They insist that it is necessary to prevent the execution of the orders, arguing that it threatens the sovereignty of Israel and the United States.
Trump’s decision to end all cooperation with the ICC is also under discussion. Washington has regularly interacted with the court, for example in investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. However, further actions by the ICC could completely destroy this connection.
Political analysts note that such measures could strengthen support for Netanyahu among his supporters, but would lead to complications in relations between the United States and its European allies. Whether this will be a solution for Israel remains an open question, but it is an opportunity for the Trump administration to demonstrate resolve in protecting its partners.
Previously, Kursor wrote that the media assessed how the ICC decision would affect Israel’s reputation internationally.
