Netanyahu Claims Int'l Criminal Court "Biased" against Jews

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of hostility to the Jews after it approved Friday its jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.

In a statement issued by his office, Netanyahu said, "When the International Criminal Court investigates Israel for war crimes, it is just anti-Jewish."

The Israeli Prime Minister claimed that the International Court's decision was double standards, saying that he rejects the decision issued by ICC judges on Friday saying that the court, based in The Hague, has jurisdiction over war crimes in the Palestinian territories, which opens the way for a possible investigation.

The judges said that the decision was based on the jurisdictional rules stipulated in the court's founding documents, and does not include any attempt to determine state status or legal boundaries.

Israel has denied the court's jurisdiction and is not a member of the court.

Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in December 2019 that there is "a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip."

The judges were asked to decide whether the situation fell within the court's jurisdiction before opening a formal investigation.

The judges responded in the ruling published on Friday that the situation falls within the jurisdiction of the judicial court.

The judges said in the ruling: “The court’s jurisdiction in the situation in Palestine extends to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.