NETANYAHU, OBAMA RE-SLAM PALESTINIAN ICC BID

Washington, 23 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/14 January 2015 (MINA ) – U.S. President Barack Obama Monday briefed the Israeli premier on Washington’s positions vis-à-vis the latest Palestinian request to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Barack Obama spoke by phone on Monday with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ongoing nuclear talks with Iran and about the Palestinian move to join the ICC, the White House said, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting on Tuesday.

“President Obama underscored that the United States does not believe Palestinian accession to the ICC is a constructive way forward,” the White House said in a statement, reiterating the U.S. position that the Palestinian Authority is not a sovereign state and does not legally qualify to join the Rome Statute.

“The United States continues to strongly oppose actions by both parties that undermine trust, and encourages both sides to seek ways to deescalate tensions,” the statement read.

Earlier, on Friday, the Palestinian delegation to the UN delivered the paperwork to Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Stephen Mathias, asking for membership in the ICC.

The Palestinians moved quickly to join the court after suffering a defeat at the U.N. Security Council, which rejected a resolution that would have set a three-year deadline for the end of the Israeli occupation. (T/P011/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)