42 House Democrats vote against Biden and in favor of sanctions against ICC in response to threats from Netanyahu.
Forty-two House Democrats joined forces with Republicans on a bill aimed at sanctioning the International Criminal Court after its chief prosecutor sought arrest warrants against top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The bill, spearheaded by Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Brian Mast, R-Fla., was successfully passed in a 247-155 vote, displaying bipartisan support on Tuesday. While two Republicans voted “present,” the rest of the GOP members, totaling 205, voted in favor of the bill. The 155 votes in opposition all originated from Democratic representatives.
Despite the bill receiving modest support from left-wing lawmakers, the White House expressed opposition to the measure but refrained from issuing a veto threat.
The White House stated, “There are more effective ways to defend Israel, preserve U.S. positions on the ICC, and promote international justice and accountability, and the Administration stands ready to work with the Congress on those options.”
House legislators engaged in bipartisan discussions last month to address the ICC’s actions after prosecutor Karim Khan announced intentions to seek arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas officials related to the Gaza conflict. Unfortunately, these talks fell apart, culminating in the White House’s statement as the deciding factor.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul expressed disappointment at the breakdown in bipartisan negotiations.
During debates on the House floor, Rep. Meeks recognized the bipartisan effort but questioned the bill’s impact, suggesting that it could have a negative effect on the ICC’s ability to prosecute atrocities globally.
Referring to the breakdown in talks, Speaker Mike Johnson held the White House responsible for halting proposed sanctions against the ICC.
Following the bill’s passage, Rep. Emmer emphasized the significance of standing with Israel and condemning terrorists.
Emmer remarked, “By passing our nonpartisan bill to sanction the ICC for absurdly equating Israel with Hamas as a war criminal, the House has unequivocally declared to the world our allegiance to our ally over ruthless terrorists. The question now remains: Which side will Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer choose?”
As developments continue to unfold in this intricate diplomatic scenario, it remains essential to closely monitor the decisions and actions taken by key stakeholders to gauge the potential impact on international relations.
