Israel bemoans Palestinian influence on ICC as 'diplomatic terrorism'

Israel’s Representative to the UN Danny Danon lambasted Sunday the International Criminal Court’s decision to probe into suspected war crimes on Palestinian territories, calling it “diplomatic terrorism” by the Palestinians.

In an interview with Hebrew-language outlet Ynet, Danon said that Israel is trying to prevent the launch of the investigation.

“Instead of negotiating, the Palestinian Authority uses every means possible to harm Israel, and this time it’s with the International Criminal Court (ICC),” Danon said. “In the coming weeks we will exert pressure so that this issue will not evolve into a legal prosecution and that the ICC will conclude that there’s no mandate to open a case in this issue.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the decision at his security Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, saying “On Friday, the criminal court in Hague officially turned into a weapon against the State of Israel.”

Netanyahu slammed prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s decision, saying it contradicts the purpose of the ICC, “founded after the atrocities of World War II and was meant to tackle problems risen in countries that commit war crimes such as genocide."

The premier added that the decision “contradicts historical truth. It opposes the right of the Jews to settle in the Jews’ homeland. To turn the fact that Jews are living in their land into a war crime is an absurdity of unimaginable proportions.”

He concluded by saying that “This is terrible hypocrisy. We will fight for our rights and for our historical truth with all the tools at our disposal.”

In Palestinian quarters, however, the decision was welcomed with gratitude, with the Palestinian Authority calling it “a long overdue step to move the process forward towards an investigation, after nearly five long and difficult years of preliminary examination,” as quoted by The Times of Israel.

Israel has refused to sign up to the Hague-based court since its creation in 2002.