Israel vows to counter Palestinian bid to join ICC

Vowing to protect Israeli soldiers from facing international war crimes charges, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today said that the Jewish state would vigorously defend its soldiers in response to a Palestinian bid to join the International Criminal Court.

The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) move to join the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) two days ago can lead to potential legal action against Israel for war crimes, a step designed to pressure the country to pull out of territories demanded by the Palestinians.

In a sharp rebuke, Israel has decided to freeze the transfer of about USD 127 million in tax revenues to the PA in the first of a promised series of punitive measures to deter the Palestinians.

“IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldiers will continue to defend the State of Israel with determination and might,” Netanyahu told his cabinet at its weekly meeting adding, “Just as they defend us, we will protect them with that same determination and the same might”.

“We will not let IDF soldiers and officers be dragged to the International Criminal Court in the Hague,” the Israeli premier asserted reacting to the PA’s controversial application made to the court.