Israel intends to call on dozens of allies to send a “discreet message” to International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda tomorrow and urge it not to investigate Israel’s alleged war crimes in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. East, two Israeli officials tell Axios.
Why does it matter: Israel is deeply concerned that any investigation could lead to international arrest warrants against Israeli military officials and officers. Israelis are also concerned that such an investigation will stimulate BDS campaigns against Israel.
News management: The Israeli Foreign Ministry sent a cable to dozens of Israeli ambassadors around the world on Sunday with instructions to begin a lobbying effort around Friday’s decision by ICC judges, which paved the way for an investigation against Israel.
- Israeli officials said the cable was designated “Urgent” and included an instruction for ambassadors to come to the office on Sunday to read the classified cable and begin contacting the governments of the countries in which they are stationed.
- By cable, Israeli ambassadors have been instructed to ask foreign ministers and heads of government in the countries where you are posted to make public statements of opposition to the judges’ decision. So far, only the US and Australia have issued such statements.
What are they saying: “US opposes ICC decision on Palestinian situation. Israel is not a state party to Rome’s Statute. We will continue to support President Biden’s strong commitment to Israel and its security, including opposing actions aimed at unjustly targeting Israel.” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Friday.
- The cable included another sensitive instruction to encourage governments to put political pressure on the ICC prosecutor. “We ask (the governments) to send a discreet message to the prosecutor, asking him not to advance the investigation against the Israeli and not to give this case a high priority,” the cable reads.
- “You are instructed to tell the highest levels of government that if an investigation is launched against Israel, it will create a continuing crisis between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which will not allow 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 thwart any investigation. Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi are expected to call on several of their major world counterparts and allies to discuss the issue.
Flashback: Bensouda announced a possible investigation into Israel and Hamas over alleged war crimes during the 2014 Gaza war, as well as Israel’s construction of West Bank settlements in December 2019, and Israel and the Trump administration immediately began trying to mobilize the opposition to try to persuade the judges to block it.