Israel plans to ask dozens of allies tomorrow to deliver a “discreet message” to International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, urging her not to pursue an investigation against Israel into alleged war crimes on the West Bank. , Gaza and East Jerusalem, two Israeli officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Israel is deeply concerned that any investigation could lead to international arrest warrants against Israeli officials and military officers. Israelis are also concerned that such an investigation will spur BDS campaigns against Israel.
Driving the news: The Israeli Foreign Ministry sent a secret cable to dozens of Israeli ambassadors around the world on Sunday with instructions to start lobbying over Friday’s ruling by ICC judges, which paved the way for an investigation against Israel.
- Israeli officials said the cable was labeled “Urgent” and contained an instruction that ambassadors should come to the office on Sunday to read the secret cable and contact the governments of the countries in which they are placed.
- In the telegram, Israeli ambassadors were instructed to ask foreign ministers and government leaders in the countries where you are stationed to issue public statements of opposition to the judges’ decision. So far, only the US and Australia have made such statements.
What they say: “The US objects to the ICC decision regarding the Palestinian situation. Israel is not a state party to the Rome Statute. We will uphold President Biden’s strong commitment to Israel and its security, including counteractions against it. aiming to unfairly target Israel, “State Department spokesman Ned Price said Friday.
- The cable contained another sensitive instruction to encourage governments to exert political pressure on the ICC prosecutor. “We request that (governments) send a discreet message to the prosecutor asking them not to proceed with the investigation against Israelis and not to give this matter high priority,” the cable said.
- “You are instructed to tell the highest levels of government that if an investigation is launched against Israel, it will create an ongoing crisis between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, preventing 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 address the ICC issue.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to send letters to dozens of leaders around the world asking for their support in countering an investigation. Netanyahu and Secretary of State Gabi Ashkenazi are expected to call some of their counterparts in major world powers and allies to discuss the matter.
Flashback: Bensouda announced the possible investigation into Israel and Hamas for 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 to try to mobilize opposition to try to convince the judges to block it.