Palestinians join International Criminal Court

The Palestinian Authority sealed its membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, where it is expected to push for international pressure on Israel over alleged war crimes. 

“In the face of the great injustice our people are enduring and the repeated crimes committed against it, Palestine has decided to seek justice, not vengeance,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said after a low-key ceremony at the court’s headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, according to The Associated Press. 

{mosads}The Palestinians submitted their paperwork to join the international body in early January, and the Palestinian Authority was slated to become the war crimes tribunal’s 123rd member on April 1, despite opposition from the U.S., Israel and Canada.

Membership in the court will now allow prosecutors jurisdiction over crimes committed on Palestinian territory, including by Palestinian militants and Israelis, though Israel, which is not a member, isn’t expected to comply. 

Inclusion in the ICC is also part of the Palestinians’ broader push for statehood recognition. The U.S. has said it opposed the Palestinian Authority’s bid into the international body, noting Palestine isn’t a state. 

Membership in the court comes just weeks after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a decisive electoral win, underpinned by controversial comments regarding a Palestinian state that were criticized by the White House.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs’ Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, said in a statement in advance of the Palestinian’s formal membership in the court that the move undermines the Israeli peace process and called on the Obama administration to cut off funds for the Palestinian Authority.

President Obama signed an appropriations bill bill in December that bars the Palestinian Authority funding if “the Palestinians initiate an International Criminal Court judicially authorized investigation, or actively support such an investigation, that subjects Israeli nationals to an investigation for alleged crimes against Palestinians.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a likely presidential contender, also proposed cutting off aid to the Palestinians earlier this year over its bid to join the ICC.

Israeli officials have so far not commented on the newest ICC member.