’Israel’ Attempts to Cut ICC Funding in Retaliation for Gaza Inquiry

Local Editor

"Israel" is lobbying member-states of the International Criminal Court [ICC] to cut funding for the tribunal in response to its launch of a preliminary inquiry into possible war crimes in the West Bank, Gaza and East al-Quds.

ICC prosecutors said on Friday they would examine "in full independence and impartiality" crimes that may have occurred in these Palestinian territories since June 13, 2014. This allows the court to delve into the "Israeli" assault on Gaza in July and August that martyred more than 2,300 Palestinians, most of them civilians.

The decision came after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas requested ICC membership, which will come into effect on April 1.

"Israel" hopes to dent funding for the court that is drawn from the 122 member-states in accordance with the size of their economies, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Sunday.

"We will demand of our friends in Canada, in Australia and in Germany simply to stop funding it," he told "Israel" Radio.

"This body represents no one. It is a political body," he said. "There are a quite a few countries - I've already taken telephone calls about this - that also think there is no justification for this body's existence."
He said he would raise the matter with visiting Canadian counterpart John Baird on Sunday.

Another "Israeli" official said that a similar request was sent to Germany, traditionally one of the court's strongest supporters, and would also be made to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is separately visiting Tel Aviv and whose nation is the largest contributor to the ICC.

Meanwhile, Hamas on Saturday welcomed the ICC inquiry and said it was prepared to provide material for complaints against the Zionist entity.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Saturday the group appreciated the move.

"What is needed now is to quickly take practical steps in this direction and we are ready to provide [the court] with thousands of reports and documents that confirm the Zionist enemy has committed horrible crimes against Gaza and against our people," he said in a statement.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team