Israel plans to deliver a “discreet message” to dozens of allies tomorrow to Fatou Bensouda, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, urging her not to pursue an investigation against Israel over alleged war crimes in the West Bank. , Gaza and East Jerusalem, two Israeli officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Israel is very concerned that any investigation could lead to an international arrest warrant against Israeli officials and military officers. The Israelis are also worried that such an investigation will advance the BDS campaigns against Israel.
Send the news: The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Sunday sent a classified cable to dozens of Israeli ambassadors around the world with instructions to launch an attempt to lobby around the ruling of the ICC judges, which paved the way for an investigation against Israel .
- Israeli officials said the cable had been designated as “urgent” and that it had instructed ambassadors to come to the office on Sunday to read the classified cable and begin reaching out to the governments of the countries in which they were posted.
- In the cable, the Israeli ambassadors were instructed to ask foreign ministers and heads of government in the countries where you are posted to issue public statements of opposition to the judges’ decision. So far, only the US and Australia have issued such statements.
What they say: “The US objects to the ICC ruling on the Palestinian situation. Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute. We will continue to uphold President Biden’s strong commitment to Israel and its security, including opposing actions that want to target Israel unfairly “, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Friday.
- The cable contains another sensitive mandate to encourage governments to put political pressure on the ICC prosecutor. “We ask that (governments) send a discreet message to the prosecutor and ask her not to continue the investigation against Israel and not to give this case a high priority”, reads the cable.
- “You are instructed to tell the highest levels of government that if an investigation is launched against Israel, it will create an ongoing crisis between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that will not bring about any diplomatic progress between the parties,” the cable said.
What’s next: The ambassadors were asked to tell friendly countries that Israel wants to open special channels of dialogue that will focus on the ICC issue.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to send letters to dozens of leaders around the world asking for their support to counter any investigation. Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi are expected to call several of their counterparts in key world powers and allies to discuss the issue.
Flash back: Bensouda announced the possible investigation into Israel and Hamas for alleged war crimes during the 2014 war in Gaza, as well as the construction of settlements across the West Bank by Israel, in December 2019, and Israel and the Trump administration immediately sought to mobilize opposition to try to convince the judges to block it.