In another brazen, breathtaking display of hypocrisy and double standards (in the grand ol’ American tradition), the US House of Representatives recently voted overwhelmingly to shield genocidal Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu from criminal prosecution for war crimes.
On 9 January, with total disregard for international rule of law, US Congress pushed through legislation that protects Netanyahu, while imposing sanctions on the ICC for issuing his arrest warrant last year.
They didn’t stop there…
THE ICC ACT
The draconian bill, called the Illegitimate Court Counteraction (ICC) Act, includes a provision to sanction any foreigner who helps the ICC investigate, arrest or prosecute citizens of the US – and its allies, particularly Israel.
The Bill passed in a landslide bipartisan vote of 243 in favor, and 140 against. No Republican voted against it.
The ICC warrants, issued in November 2024, called for the arrest of Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, and three Hamas leaders. The warrant for Netanyahu sparked anger in (pro-Zionist) America, with President Joe Biden calling it, “Outrageous”.
Biden also said there was “no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.” (I guess Biden forgot, “one man’s terrorist…is another man’s freedom fighter.”)
The US and Israel – two countries who deem themselves above international law – are not parties to the Rome statute and do not recognize the authority of the ICC.
RULES FOR THEE, BUT NOT FOR ME – OR BIBI
In his bullshit defence of the bill, Republican Florida Representative, Brian Mast told the house; “America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel.”
“Kangaroo court”, huh…? That’s funny, because…
When the ICC issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, Al-Bashir and Putin – to name a few – the US welcomed and endorsed them all. (And slammed the SA government for failing to arrest Bashir when they had the opportunity.)
Does any of this sound consistent with international rule of law to you? Okay, forget rule of law, how about that “Rules-Based Order” that the Western globalists are always going on about?
ISRAEL HAS ‘NO RIGHT TO VENGEANCE‘
However, there was some pushback against the atrocious Act. Democratic Representative, Jim McGovern of Massachusettes said; “Republicans want to sanction the ICC simply because they don’t want the rules to apply to everyone.”
He added, “PM Netanyahu has a right to defend his people…but there is no international right to vengeance. And what we are seeing in Gaza…is vengeance.”
ICC TODAY, ICJ TOMORROW
Remember, this is not just a f*ck you to the ICC, from Israel and the US. It’s also a f*ck you to South Africa. Lest we forget, after SA presented their genocide case against Israel to the ICJ in January 2024, Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor pushed the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
If the US and Israel have blatant disregard for the ICC and international law, how do you think they’ll respond to a judgement from the ICJ that convicts Netanyahu (and his cabal) for genocidal war crimes?
ICC AND RIGHTS GROUPS CONDEMN THE ACT
The ICC has“noted the Bill with concern.” In a statement, they said, “The court firmly condemns any and all actions intended to threaten the court and its officials, undermine its mandate and deprive millions of victims of justice and hope.”
On 6 January, ahead of the House vote, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) – along with a coalition of over 75 various NGOs – issued a letter to US Congress urging them to“reject harmful sanctions aimed at undermining the ICC; an institution crucial for holding perpetrators of crimes against humanity accountable.
” It called on the US to instead,“reaffirm its support for the rule of law and uphold its commitment to human rights.”
‘SHOCKING MOCKERY OF THE LAW’ – UNHRC
On 10 January, the day after the House vote, three experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council also called on the US Senate to oppose the bill.
The experts, part of the UNHRC’s Special Procedures arm, expressed dismay at the passage of the Act. They said, “It is shocking to see a country that considers itself a champion of the rule of law trying to stymie the actions of an independent and impartial tribunal, to thwart accountability,”
They also warned that “Threats against the ICC promote a culture of impunity. They make a mockery of the decades-long quest to place law above force and atrocity,”
The Special Procedures experts have submitted their concerns to the US government.
WILL TRUMP BLOCK OR BOOST THE BILL?
In a previous article, I asked if Trump would uphold the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu, or defy it.
Trump has made it clear he’s “Israel’s best friend.” And judging by his cabinet full of fanatically religious, bible-thumping, apocalyptic, pro-Zionist zealots, we know he’s not kidding.
He also received more than $100m in campaign finance from Miriam Adelson, a staunch Zionist.
Furthermore, Trump has sanctioned the ICC before, during his first term in 2020, after the court disclosed it was investigating alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan.
So, if you’d asked me about a week ago, I would’ve said there’s a damn good chance that Trump will not only defy the ICC warrant and refuse to arrest Netanyahu, but he’d probably also follow Bibi into a war with Iran.
But then…last week Big Don went and did a baffling thing…
DID TRUMP SPUR THE ICC VOTE – WITH A POST?
On Tuesday, 7 January, Donald Trump posted a video on his Truth Social platform of renowned Columbia University economist, Professor Jeffrey Sachs describing Bibi Netanyahu as (among other things) “a deep, dark…Sonofabitch!”
The slur, out of character for the usually measured, mild-mannered Sachs, slipped out during his speech at Cambridge Union in October last year, while he was explaining how Benjamin Netanyahu dragged the US into wars with Iraq, Syria and (coming soon) Iran.
SACHS EXPOSES TIMBER SYCAMORE
Sachs hinted at the fact that practically every war in the Middle East, especially from the outset of the GWOT in Afghanistan, has been – not in America’s interests, nor the Arab world’s interests – but Israel’s.
Prof Sachs also set the conspiracy cat among the political pigeons when he brought up Operation Timber Sycamore; Barack Obama’s presidential regime-change order for the CIA to overthrow Syria’s Bashar al-Assad – three times in 10 years (which they finally achieved in December last year).
IS TRUMP GOING TO DUMP BIBI?
Two days after Donald Trump posted that video, Netanyahu cancelled his plans to attend Trump’s inauguration.
That video post has perplexed the hell out of analysts, pundits and Trump’s pro-Zionist base, with many on the net trying to speculate why he did it.
One analyst said Trump doesn’t like being bullied by world leaders (I’m guessing he prefers to be the only bully in the room). Another commentator said, “Trump is playing Realpolitik.”
Could Trump’s allegiance to Netanyahu be fading? Perhaps he’s going to save Israel…from Netanyahu?
Remember, Trump said he’s “Israel’s best friend.” Not Bibi’s.
And maybe ex-CIA analyst, Larry Johnson is right; “Trump can clearly see what Bibi is doing…to Israel.”
What say you, SA? Will Trump block or boost the ICC sanctions bill?
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