Bipartisan group of US Senators pledges action against ICC

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland attends a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, April 27, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland attends a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, April 27, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

A bipartisan group of US Senators are pledging to take action against the International Criminal Court after its chief prosecutor requested arrest warrants be issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“We will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to strenuously object to the ICC’s actions against our ally, Israel, and take appropriate steps to help Israel and protect American personnel from future ICC action,” says a joint statement from Democrats Ben Cardin (Foreign Relations Committee chair), Richard Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen and John Fetterman along with Republicans Lindsey Graham, Jim Risch, Katie Britt and John Thune.

House Republicans are working to pass legislation that would sanction ICC officials involved in the targeting of Israel. It is likely to pass, but faces a more difficult path in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The Biden administration opposed the targeting of the ICC that was done during former president Donald Trump’s tenure. However, US President Joe Biden has come out aggressively against The Hague’s effort against Israel.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during congressional testimony earlier today that the administration is prepared to work with Congress “on a bipartisan basis to find an appropriate response” to the ICC effort against Israel.

Most Popular