'Help Israel avoid war crimes charges,' Netanyahu urges US lawmakers

[Ichingcarpenter]

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu appealed to American legislators to help Israel stave off what is likely to be a concerted global push to haul the country’s military and political leaders to international courts for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza, The New York Post reported on Thursday.

According to the Post, during a meeting on Wednesday with members of Congress who are visiting Israel as guests of AIPAC, Netanyahu urged the American representatives to summon their powers in assisting Israeli officials who wish to avoid trial by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Help-Israel-avoid-war-crimes-charges-Netanyahu-urges-US-lawmakers-370352

Netanyahu asks US to help Israel avoid war crime charges



WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked US lawmakers Wednesday to help fend off Palestinian claims that his country engaged in “war crimes” while defending itself against attacks from Gaza, one top lawmaker told The Post.

The Israeli leader later told international reporters that his country employed “extraordinary measures” to avoid civilian deaths in the nearly month-long conflict.

As a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held for a third day, Netanyahu met with a group of US legislators, including Rep. Steve Israel (D-L.I.,) to discuss the country’s tense security situation and some fissures in US-Israel relations.

Netanyahu asked the delegation to help Israel stay out of the International Criminal Court, where its attacks on Gaza could come under scrutiny — even while responding to Hamas rockets fired at Israeli urban centers.

Palestinian leaders are getting ready to join the ICC, and met with officials in the Hague recently to discuss the implications of joining.


“The prime minister asked us to work together to ensure that this strategy of going to the ICC does not succeed,” Rep. Israel told the Post by phone from Tel Aviv.



http://nypost.com/2014/08/06/netanyahu-asks-us-to-help-israel-avoid-war-crime-charges/

[badtoworse]

1. I support Israel, but there should still be scrutiny of what took place in Gaza.

That scrutiny should also include Hamas.

[malaise]

2. There are no words

[ellenrr]

3. No worry- Mr. Netanyahu, the US Congress has your back. nt

[hobbit709]

4. If you want to avoid war crimes charges, then don't commit war crimes.

It's quite simple actually.

[gratuitous]

9. Auntie Semite!

Israel has the unrestricted right to self-defense! They wanna destroy Israel! Never again! Human shields! Hamas! Uh, something else . . . what is it? Oh yeah, Hezbooooooooooooollah!

Wasn't it just last week that good ol' Bibi was instructing us to never, ever, second guess Israel?

[AuntPatsy]

27. Of course it is simple but the laws no longer apply to the powerful and wealthy...

So once again words excusing the continued atrocities will play on and on until the minds of mere men no longer remember the reasons why they were upset to begin with, a mere blip in recorded history...

[bemildred]

5. It is interesting and useful to see what BIbi fears. nt

[sabrina 1]

6. Well, he went to the right people, the US Congress, famous, or infamous perhaps for

protecting War Criminals. However, the way things are changing regarding any moral authority the US Congress might have had in the past, maybe he should be appealing to someone else.

Not sure what the procedure is re War Crimes Tribunals, but a whole lot of people around the world would like to see some of our own War Criminals facing charges WITH Netanyahu.

[malaise]

10. Yes

add Tony Blair to that list as well and all those countries that had torture prisons on behalf of the US.

[atreides1]

7. I seem to recall...

...him telling us to "fuck off" and mind our own business! I think we should follow that sage advice...if the Israelis are innocent then they should look forward to proving that what they did and the tactics they employed were within the limits of international law!

At least when it comes to Israel the US Congress can always come together in a bipartisan fashion and work hard for them.

Not so much for Americans though...

[sabrina 1]

19. I remember that too. He told us 'never to second guess him again' among other

things. He sounded all tough and fearless just a week or so ago, not so much now for some reason.

[Sherman A1]

32. You seem to offer a very

well reasoned response to the suggestion of the Esteemed Israeli Leader.

I wouldn't hesitate to follow his advice in not second guessing him in this case.

Under the heading of "If You do the Crime, You do the time" or something like that.....

[PowerToThePeople]

8. We would know how.

It is pretty easy, you just do this.

And have more guns than anyone else.

[GeorgeGist]

11. I would think that's an easy one ...

given the US doesn't recognize the ICC.

[madokie]

12. Burn their ass

F* Israel

[seveneyes]

13. Fuck Hamas and their desire to wipe out Israel

Israel deserves, and needs our support.

[Spider Jerusalem]

14. I'm sorry, but do you actually live in the real world with the rest of us?

Israel is occupying Palestinian territory and has refused to halt expansion of illegal settlements. Israel has the 11th most powerful military in the world and the single most powerful in the Middle East. Israel has advanced artillery, tanks, F16 fighter jets. Hamas has crude rockets and Kalashnikovs and stones. Hamas has no capability to "wipe out" Israel, whatever their rhetoric.

[Electric Monk]

26. They joined DU as a "gun rights supporter", and have now ventured into geopolitics.

So far, the stereotype fits perfectly.

[DanTex]

35. Indeed. It's striking how the NRAers also seem to be the big apologists for Israeli war crimes.

[Electric Monk]

38. I wish I could say I was surprised. Even a teeny tiny little bit. They just go hand in hand. nt

[kelliekat44]

17. Neither is true. And neither should be given. nt

[DisgustipatedinCA]

20. Absolutely. We should never second-guess that piece of dogshit ever again. nt

[kelliekat44]

15. Yes, well...get the names of those visiting to whom this was allegedly directed. I want to know

who to fight against.

[Jefferson23]

16. They knew they were outside the law before they acted, thanks for the confirmation, Bibi. n/t

[kelliekat44]

18. In most other countries that experienced occupation by a foreign power those fighting the opposition

were called freedom fighters, the resistance, or nationalists... that is in every occupied country or territory NOT occupied by the US/UK/IS. How the rest of the world allows this to happen is beyond me. Coups are not coups when they overthrow duly elected leaders that we don't like. Civil War is not a civil war when it happens in countries we have economic interests in. A dictators are only a dictators or tyrants when we don't support them.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

21. So there are members of Congress who couldn't do anything about the crisis on our

southern border who are in Israel, as guests of AIPAC, strategizing against possible war crimes charges from ICC...

I cannot say what I want to say... I'll leave it at that.

[DeadLetterOffice]

22. Oh, oh, I know this one! "NO!" n/t

[L0oniX]

23. Well he's asking the current king of war crimes country to help with his war crimes.

It's just some folks committing war crimes against some folks.

[enid602]

24. bibi

Bibi needs to build him a bunker, if he hasn't already.

[SteveG]

25. Neither the U.S. or Israel

are party to the Court or the treaty which created it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. For the same reason that Jesse James never joined the posse that was chasing him.

[Matt_in_STL]

29. If he is really, truly concerned...

He can always move to Argentina. I hear they work wonders in hiding war criminals.

[LittleBlue]

30. What can the US congress do to the ICC?

Are they going to declare war on Netherlands?

Wouldn't surprise me.

[Jack Rabbit]

33. More or less

A law passed Congress in 2002 and was signed by President former Governor of Texas Bush, who was contemplating becoming a war criminal in his own right, that provides that the US will invade and rescue any American held for trial by the ICC.

[tritsofme]

36. Congress can cut off funding to the PA if they make unilateral moves

in the international arena, like joining the ICC. I'm not positive, but this may even be a requirement in current law.

Otherwise the ICC has no jurisdiction absent a Security Council recommendation.

[joeybee12]

31. Maybe they can take Cheney and Bush with them to the Hague...

Quite frankly, if none of the Bush regime are up there facing trial, I can't imagine Israelis being tried...

[hifiguy]

34. That crawling shit should be hauled into the dock at the Hague

as should his senior military commanders. Long terms of imprisonment after a scrupulously fair trial. Guilt is not in doubt but following the correct procedures is of the utmost importance.

[magical thyme]

37. here's an idea.

QUIT FUCKING COMMITTING WAR CRIMES YOU MURDEROUS SHITBAG.

May Cheney, Bush et al join you at the Hague.