In a pathetic display of disregard for justice for international crimes, the United States has once again showed its support for Israel’s war crimes denouncing the International Criminal Court’s recent decision to probe into the alleged atrocities against Palestinian occupied territories.

In a statement issued yesterday (16 January 2015), the US has condemned the ICC’s decision to launch a preliminary investigation into Israel’s crimes. Describing the matter a “tragic irony”, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said – “we strongly disagree with the ICC prosecutor’s action today.”

According to media reports, the United States provides Israel with some $8.5 million in military aid per day, adding up to over $3 billion annually (<a href="http://bit this post.ly/1yp8J2S” target=”_blank”>link).

It is worth noting that the United States is one of the few countries in the Western world that failed to sign up to the Rome Statute that established the ICC which is the first permanent international justice mechanism to address international crimes. It also needs to be mentioned that, the United States has entered into over 80 Bilateral Impunity Agreements (BIAs) with other countries, obliging them not to subject US citizens to the jurisdiction of the ICC.

This is demonstrative of the United State’s lack of commitment to justice, although through its various appointed Ambassadors the US would like to have others believe that the country’s interest in Bangladesh’s current justice process at the International Crimes Tribunal (BD) is nothing but principled. It needs highlighting that Bangladesh happens to be a country, unlike the United States, that is not only a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) demonstrating its commitment to international justice, but the country has also proven its commitment to justice by bringing the perpetrators of international crimes before a domestic justice process.

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PREVIOUSLY:

ICSF’s statement welcoming ICC’s decision to probe Israeli war crimes: link

See also:
ICSF’s position paper on the role of USA towards the justice process in Bangladesh: link