Palestinians submit documents to join ICC

[Lite Beer]

Palestinians submit documents to join ICC
EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Palestinians took the last formal step Friday to join the International Criminal Court, seeking to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel over the recent conflict in Gaza and Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories.

The high-stakes move has drawn threats of retaliation from Israel and is vehemently opposed by the U.S. as an obstacle to reaching an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

After submitting the documents to join the ICC, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said the Palestinians are seeking to raise alleged crimes committed by Israel, including during last summer's war in Gaza. He said the Palestinians will also seek justice for Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, which he said constitute "a war crime" under the Rome statute that established the court.

"This is a very significant step," Mansour told reporters. "It is an option that we are seeking in order to seek justice for all the victims that have been killed by Israel, the occupying power."

The Palestinians moved quickly to join the court after suffering a defeat in the U.N. Security Council, which rejected a resolution Tuesday that would have set a three-year deadline for the establishment of a Palestinian state on lands occupied by Israel.

Joining the ICC is part of a broader strategy to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the territories and agreeing to Palestinian statehood.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been under heavy domestic pressure to take stronger action against Israel after a 50-day war between the Jewish state and militants in Gaza over the summer, tensions over holy sites in Jerusalem and the failure of the last round of U.S.-led peace talks. He signed the documents to join the ICC a day after the Security Council rejected the resolution.

Mansour said Palestinian leaders are studying "all options" including going back to the Security Council, whose incoming members are viewed as more favorable or to the General Assembly where there are no vetoes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately vowed to take unspecified "retaliatory steps." The U.S. State Department said the Palestinian decision would only set back the aspirations of the Palestinian people for an independent state.

Mansour delivered the paperwork to Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Stephen Mathias, who said the U.N. will examine them to ensure that they are in proper form.

Mansour said it will take about 60 days under ICC rules for "the state of Palestine" to become the 123rd member of the court.

Mansour said the Palestinians delivered a letter Thursday night to the registrar of the ICC in The Hague requesting that the court consider alleged crimes committed during the Gaza war "and reserving our right for other retroactive crimes committed by Israel." He said he would be meeting with an official from the registrar's office in New York later Friday to discuss the issue.

Former ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said in an AP interview in August that the Palestinians have the right to decide that the court has jurisdiction dating back to November 2012, when the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to upgrade the Palestinians' status from a U.N. observer to a non-voting observer state. Ocampo said there should be "no discussion" on that.

The General Assembly's recognition of Palestine as an observer state made it possible for the Palestinians to join the International Criminal Court and other U.N. bodies.

Once it becomes a member, Palestine could seek to have Israeli military or political figures prosecuted for alleged crimes involving settlement construction on occupied lands or actions by the military that cause heavy civilian casualties.

"Palestine's move to join the ICC means that individuals implicated in war crimes committed in or from Palestinian territory could be held to account," said Balkees Jarrah, international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch. "Giving the court a mandate may deter the abuses that fuel animosity and make returning to peace talks more difficult — whether settlement expansion, Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza, or unlawful Hamas rocket strikes."

But joining the court also exposes the Palestinians themselves to charges of war crimes over rocket attacks by the extremist group Hamas on Israeli population centers and other violence against Jewish targets.

Mansour said the Palestinians aren't afraid.

"We uphold the law so high, and we are not afraid of the judgment of the law, especially international law," he said.

Mansour also delivered documents to the U.N. Friday for Palestine to join 15 other U.N. conventions, treaties and agreements.

These include the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the Law of the Sea convention, and the convention lifting the statute of limitations for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Palestinians also seek to join conventions against transnational organized crime, and on the political rights of women, biological diversity, movement of hazardous waste and the safety of U.N. personnel.

A U.S. official warned of consequences.

"It should come as no surprise that there will be implications for this step, but we continue to review," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

___

AP writer Matthew Lee contributed from Washington.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-03

[NeverSure]

[JDGRUEN]

Well - the previous thread on this ground to a halt ... lets see how long this one takes...

[konying]

I wonder what Hamas thinks about this

[Scott]

Off-topic, inflammatory posts and replies removed.

[Credo]

You mean all this talk about taking Israel to the ICC and they hadn't gotten around to joining yet?

Does this mean that the Palestinian controlled areas will follow the rules of the ICC?

[ezzra]

You mean all this talk about taking Israel to the ICC and they hadn't gotten around to joining yet?

Does this mean that the Palestinian controlled areas will follow the rules of the ICC?

Probably not.. not always what good for the goose is good for the gender....

while the pious and the righteous Palestinians will appeal to the ICC

and wash their hands off if the Hamas could continue with it's aggressions

blaming 'other factions not under it's control' and thus hold the stick at

both ends....

[rickirs]

Palestians: "We uphold the law so high, and we are not afraid of the judgment of the law, especially international law"

About as high as Hamas rockets fly.

So long as Hamas occupies Palestine territory it will give Israel execuses to continues its abuses against Palestinians in Israel controlled lands and security lockdown of the territory. So long as the Palestine territory remains internally divided between the Authority and Hamas, UN General Assembly acceptance of the territory as a unified country will not happen.

[ABCer]

In case of "Palestine" (read: HAMAS) joining the ICC despite all the evidence against them as perpetrators of Israel/Gaza hostilities -

the guys simply are desperate to get wider recognition as a "State". Nothing else.

IMHO awarding a status of a "STATE" needs more than a mere fact of a bunch of aggressive frustrated nomads gathered to do nothing more than pray, dig and launch.

Even if they breed with speed and pray Allah.

[ezzra]

Yes, the poor Palestinians, the forever 'refuges' and the darling of the world's left's bleeding hearts,

they can't do nothing wrong, and Israel is for ever the demons who's imprisoned them,

Not many people know that without Israel assistances and providing the west bank and Gaza

with all life essential to exist, such as electricity, water, fuel and fresh produce and banking

and medical services those entities would have perished and collapsed long time ago,

the west bank and Gaza is ENTIRELY depends on Israel providing them with those life

lines for the last 40 years or so.......

[uptheos]

Geez, I opened this thinking they wanted to play international cricket.

[ABCer]

Geez, I opened this thinking they wanted to play international cricket.

But isn't it what they did for the last 40+ years?

Launch, dig, pray and breed? ... Anything I forgot?... Ah, yes, - stretch out hand for donations...

So that their murderous Leaders can get around the World "kissing". And did they go - in style!

[arjunadawn]

Yes, the poor Palestinians, the forever 'refuges' and the darling of the world's left's bleeding hearts,

they can't do nothing wrong, and Israel is for ever the demons who's imprisoned them,

Not many people know that without Israel assistances and providing the west bank and Gaza

with all life essential to exist, such as electricity, water, fuel and fresh produce and banking

and medical services those entities would have perished and collapsed long time ago,

the west bank and Gaza is ENTIRELY depends on Israel providing them with those life

lines for the last 40 years or so.......

The end game of the palestinians is to destroy the very thing that gives it life- the jews. Culturely, this "virus" or religious tribal ideology has spread nonstop infecting and laying waste to every civilization it has touched in the last 1,400 years. This is the foundation for the local arab hatred of the jews, not nationalism, a very late arrival to their motives. No culture or progress flourishes after this... this ideology infection destroys the host; in this case Israel.

The local arabs efforts to force through coercion Israel's subjegation (and bypass direct final status talks) will, if achieved, destroy themselves. They will forever be a tribal warring underclass that when once the host is destroyed will digress again into waring on others and stasis- just watching the time and the dunes shift and pass, and modernity march on. This dialectic of victim, defensive war, then finally offensive war has been carried out numerous times by the arabs. This is not new at all. They actually have a blueprint.

[Seastallion]

Yes, the poor Palestinians, the forever 'refuges' and the darling of the world's left's bleeding hearts,

they can't do nothing wrong, and Israel is for ever the demons who's imprisoned them,

Not many people know that without Israel assistances and providing the west bank and Gaza

with all life essential to exist, such as electricity, water, fuel and fresh produce and banking

and medical services those entities would have perished and collapsed long time ago,

the west bank and Gaza is ENTIRELY depends on Israel providing them with those life

lines for the last 40 years or so.......

Actually, you are very wrong.

Israel demolishes Palestinian farms wherever there is water, and take the water for themselves. Israel refuses to give Palestinians permits to drill new wells. Most West Bank Palestinians are under a very severe water shortage as the Israeli's pipe it all away. Meanwhile, West Bank settlers enjoy lush lawns and swimming pools.

You mention Gaza....hahaha....the blockade imposed by Israel severely restricts normal every day household, health and educational items.

[Seastallion]

Yes, the poor Palestinians, the forever 'refuges' and the darling of the world's left's bleeding hearts,

they can't do nothing wrong, and Israel is for ever the demons who's imprisoned them,

Not many people know that without Israel assistances and providing the west bank and Gaza

with all life essential to exist, such as electricity, water, fuel and fresh produce and banking

and medical services those entities would have perished and collapsed long time ago,

the west bank and Gaza is ENTIRELY depends on Israel providing them with those life

lines for the last 40 years or so.......

The end game of the palestinians is to destroy the very thing that gives it life- the jews. Culturely, this "virus" or religious tribal ideology has spread nonstop infecting and laying waste to every civilization it has touched in the last 1,400 years. This is the foundation for the local arab hatred of the jews, not nationalism, a very late arrival to their motives. No culture or progress flourishes after this... this ideology infection destroys the host; in this case Israel.

The local arabs efforts to force through coercion Israel's subjegation (and bypass direct final status talks) will, if achieved, destroy themselves. They will forever be a tribal warring underclass that when once the host is destroyed will digress again into waring on others and stasis- just watching the time and the dunes shift and pass, and modernity march on. This dialectic of victim, defensive war, then finally offensive war has been carried out numerous times by the arabs. This is not new at all. They actually have a blueprint.

You could more validly and accurately state that " This dialectic of victim, defensive war, then finally offensive war has been carried out numerous times by the" Israelis!

Whatsmore, even when committing acts of aggression, they cry it is defensive.

[arjunadawn]

Yes, the poor Palestinians, the forever 'refuges' and the darling of the world's left's bleeding hearts,

they can't do nothing wrong, and Israel is for ever the demons who's imprisoned them,

Not many people know that without Israel assistances and providing the west bank and Gaza

with all life essential to exist, such as electricity, water, fuel and fresh produce and banking

and medical services those entities would have perished and collapsed long time ago,

the west bank and Gaza is ENTIRELY depends on Israel providing them with those life

lines for the last 40 years or so.......

The end game of the palestinians is to destroy the very thing that gives it life- the jews. Culturely, this "virus" or religious tribal ideology has spread nonstop infecting and laying waste to every civilization it has touched in the last 1,400 years. This is the foundation for the local arab hatred of the jews, not nationalism, a very late arrival to their motives. No culture or progress flourishes after this... this ideology infection destroys the host; in this case Israel.

The local arabs efforts to force through coercion Israel's subjegation (and bypass direct final status talks) will, if achieved, destroy themselves. They will forever be a tribal warring underclass that when once the host is destroyed will digress again into waring on others and stasis- just watching the time and the dunes shift and pass, and modernity march on. This dialectic of victim, defensive war, then finally offensive war has been carried out numerous times by the arabs. This is not new at all. They actually have a blueprint.

You could more validly and accurately state that " This dialectic of victim, defensive war, then finally offensive war has been carried out numerous times by the" Israelis!

Whatsmore, even when committing acts of aggression, they cry it is defensive.

Your point is fair. Its just my position that the Palestinians adhere to a very different script then the nationalist one presumed by so many.

[Ulysses G.]

You mention Gaza....hahaha....the blockade imposed by Israel severely restricts normal every day household, health and educational items.

I'm sure that you realize that there WAS NO BLOCKADE when Israel handed over Gaza. It went into place after Hamas started launching rockets and terrorist attacks from their new HQ. As per usual, they brought the restrictions on themselves.

[Morch]

I wonder what Hamas thinks about this

Hamas said in the past it will support the Palestinian ICC move, and apparently signed letters to this effect as part of the current application. Hamas's reasoning at the time (August, I believe) was that as they were merely defending themselves against aggression, their actions are justified. Yeah, I know....even someone who supports Hamas can see how this may not go well in court.

The more obvious reasons for Hamas going along with this are that any enforcement of court decisions is basically up to the authorities in relevant country. Seeing as the PA does not control the Gaza Strip, and that if election ever go through, Hamas got a fair chance of winning - perhaps not too much of a risk to take.

By the way, Hamas leadership expressed scorn for Abbas's UNSC effort ("no compromise" etc...), while egging him on with the ICC application, pushing for speedy submission of cases against Israel.

[Morch]

Yes, the poor Palestinians, the forever 'refuges' and the darling of the world's left's bleeding hearts,

they can't do nothing wrong, and Israel is for ever the demons who's imprisoned them,

Not many people know that without Israel assistances and providing the west bank and Gaza

with all life essential to exist, such as electricity, water, fuel and fresh produce and banking

and medical services those entities would have perished and collapsed long time ago,

the west bank and Gaza is ENTIRELY depends on Israel providing them with those life

lines for the last 40 years or so.......

Any occupying power is tasked with providing basic facilities and infrastructure in the territories held.

The Palestinian argument would be precisely this, that Israeli control does not allow them to develop

their own versions of the above.

[Morch]

You mention Gaza....hahaha....the blockade imposed by Israel severely restricts normal every day household, health and educational items.

I'm sure that you realize that there WAS NO BLOCKADE when Israel handed over Gaza. It went into place after Hamas started launching rockets and terrorist attacks from their new HQ. As per usual, they brought the restrictions on themselves.

While being OT, this is something which keeps getting repeated, but is over simplified. There were many trade and movement restriction in place, relevant to the Gaza Strip prior to Israel's withdrawal and the Hamas taking over. The blockade as it stands today is simply a culmination and extension of previous measures. While it was not present in its full blown form, it is not quite the case that it came out of nowhere.