US 'strongly opposes' Palestinian ICC membership

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Source: globalpost

Agence France-Presse December 31, 2014 6:00pm

The United States said Wednesday it "strongly opposes" a request from the Palestinian Authority to join the International Criminal Court, fearing this will further delay peace talks with Israel.

"We are deeply troubled by today's Palestinian action regarding the ICC," said Jeffrey Rathke, a State Department spokesman.

"Today's action is entirely counterproductive and does nothing to further the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a sovereign and independent state."

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas issued requests Wednesday for his authority to join 20 international conventions, including that governing the ICC, each a step on the road to statehood.

Read more: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/141231/us-strongly-opposes-palestinian-icc-membership-1

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What peace talks with Israel??? There are no true peace talks with Israel!!!

[cstanleytech]

1. Israel has been seeking peace? Since when?

[former9thward]

14. Since 1948.

Its neighbors have been seeking war from the same date.

[cstanleytech]

21. Odd, I thought Israel and its neighbors were seeking it in their own way all this time

with none of them willing to really compromise.

[Posteritatis]

2. Maybe the US should join before tossing opinions on others doing so. (nt)

[DeSwiss]

3. US 'strongly opposes' Palestinian ICC membership

- Of course we do. What's a bulwark of freedom to do?

K&R

[HeiressofBickworth]

4. OF COURSE the US doesn't want the PA to join the ICC

If they were a member, they might bring human rights abuse charges against our dear, sweet (heavy on the sarcasm here) ally, Israel.

[L0oniX]

5. I approve of it and strongly oppose whoever the fuck the "US" is.

[FairWinds]

6. Just so we are clear on this . .

here we have an international outlaw regime (i.e., us)
lecturing others about the International Criminal Court.
There are hundreds of US political and military officials
who belong in the ICC dock.
We would urge the ICC to launch legal action against the US without delay.
Veterans For Peace

[Rhinodawg]

7. That's nothing.

FiveGoodMen said it better than you.


Americans have always been such evil fucks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6007399

[swilton]

15. +

[another_liberal]

20. Well said!

Good for you.

[BillZBubb]

8. We wouldn't want to delay Israel's sham peace talks, now would we?

Israel doesn't want peace unless it gets to keep Jerusalem and all of the West Bank it wants.

The US is the BIGGEST impediment to real peace talks. The US provides resources and political cover to allow the Israelis to continue their brutal and illegal occupation. Israel has no reason to seek a just peace when it is getting everything it wants thanks to the US.

[Johnny Rash]

9. The whole issue of "Permanent Peace" between Israel/Palestine is no longer up to the U.S.!

I suspect that the U.S. lost all credibility as a Honest Peace Treaty Broker.

Check this out: "Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East [Kindle Edition]".

[Jack Rabbit]

10. I strongly support US membership in the ICC

I strongly support trying the Bush Junta war criminals before the ICC, since the US government is unwilling to do so.

Also, the Palestinians should declare a state unilaterally. Do they need Bibi's permission? He would never give it in any case.

[former9thward]

13. Where is their state going to be?

What are the borders?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Until the US fully joins the ICC, its opinion on others joining should be irrelevant

I'd rather hear from some member states.

[Comrade Grumpy]

12. The US is Israel's, um, what's the word? Servant?

[The Shredder]

16. I'm all for it...

As long as ICC gives equal look at Palestine, especially the Hamas side, as they are equally as guilty of committing war crimes.

[ncjustice80]

17. Are we surprised the US opposes justice?

[another_liberal]

18. Here is an Update . . .

It's a done deal:

Palestine files ‘Israeli war crimes’ probe request along with accession letter to ICC

Along with the letters of accession to the ICC, Palestine has reportedly filed a request to the Hague to investigate Israeli war crimes during the 50-day war in Gaza last summer. Palestinian officials have not yet commented on the Israeli media reports. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas signed the request to probe IDF's use of force starting June 13, 2014 along with the letters of accession to the International Criminal court on Wednesday night, an unnamed NGO worker told Haaretz. On Friday the batch of newly signed documents and the petition are expected to be received by the UN secretary-general.

“As far as the Palestinian leadership is concerned, everything that had to be done to join the International Criminal Court has been done,” a Palestine Liberation Organization official told the publication.

The source stressed that official membership would enable Palestinians to file complaints against Israel without the hindrance of bureaucracy of the Palestinian Authority. The source added that Hamas leader are willing to risk standing trial at the ICC as long as Israel is brought to justice for their actions against militants in Gaza that resulted in a massive civilian casualties.

The seven weeks of Israeli bombardment and ground operation in Gaza killed more than 2,200 people – the vast majority of them civilians.

http://rt.com/news/219275-palestine-israel-crimes-icc/

[jdenver_2624]

19. Oh the hypocrisy.

Considering the fact that the USA is not even a member of the ICC, it really has no leg to stand on. To be honest though, who would have expected America to ever take the side of Palestine? Pigs will fly before that will ever happen.