SE Valley Times

This week, Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced a resolution condemning the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant applications for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

When President Bill Clinton signed the Rome Statute—the treaty that established the ICC—he did not submit the treaty to be ratified by the Senate. As the Constitution requires approval from two-thirds of the Senate for international treaties to be confirmed, the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute. Therefore, Congressman Biggs’s resolution asserts that the House of Representatives does not recognize the legitimacy nor jurisdiction of the ICC.

“The ICC is not a legitimate multilateral institution. It has no authority to invade the sovereignty of Israel or any other nation unless a sovereign state has ceded its self-governance to the ICC. It is particularly pernicious that the ICC, without color of authority, would attempt to punish Israel and its leaders for exercising its right to defend itself from barbaric terrorists,” said Congressman Biggs.

“Neither the United States nor Israel are parties to the Rome Statute. As such, any attempt by the ICC to enforce their arrest warrant applications will not be recognized by the United States.

“Hamas wants nothing more than to eradicate the Jewish people, and the ICC should not sabotage Israel’s right to defend itself.”

Congressman Biggs’s resolution may be read here. Just The News covered the resolution here.