Jacky Rosen

05/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/10/2024 14:09

Rosen, Rubio Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging President to Strongly Oppose International Criminal Court Efforts Targeting Israel

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen led a bipartisan letter with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), signed by 7 Senators, urging President Biden to forcefully counter the International Criminal Court's (ICC) efforts to target Israel. According to reports, the ICC is on the verge of issuing arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, which could undermine negotiations to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The bipartisan group of senators urged the President to oppose the ICC's actions by using his authority to respond to the Court's overreach and stand firmly with Israel.

"We write following reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is on the verge of issuing arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials," wrote the senators. "We are deeply concerned about the ICC's efforts to politically target Israel and respectfully urge you to forcefully counter this judicial overreach to protect our ally and American interests."

"It is outrageous that the ICC would make a political calculus to target Israel, which only further undermines the Court's legitimacy and undercuts efforts to advance peace between Israelis and Palestinians," they continued. "Under the American Servicemembers Protection Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-206), the President

is granted broad authorities to respond to these types of actions by the ICC, and we urge you to fully implement the law should the Court move forward with action against Israel."

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

Senator Rosen has been a strong leader in the push to support Israel and efforts to seek the release of hostages held by Hamas. Following the terrorist attack on October 7th, Senator Rosen took action to ensure Israel got all of the support it needed to defend itself and defeat Hamas. Last year, Rosen announced that the United States would transfer two additional Iron Dome batteries to Israel following her bipartisan push to bolster this life-saving defense system. She also joined fellow senators in a letter urging President Biden to take action to ensure Israel has the munitions and missile defense capabilities it needs, including Iron Dome interceptors to defend against Hamas's terror attack. Additionally, Senator Rosen sent a bipartisan letter calling on President Biden to leverage the U.S. relationship with Qatar to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. She also helped include a provision in the bipartisan national defense bill to authorize $500 million for the Iron Dome and other U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs.

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