Palestinian bid to enter International Criminal Court

In response to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' application to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) today, Susan W. Turnbull and Rabbi Steve Gutow, Chair and President respectively, of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) issued the following statement: “The Jewish Council for Public Affairs said Mahmoud Abbas has made a tragic and historic mistake by applying for membership to the International Criminal Court on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.  This unilateral move by Abbas, immediately following the United Nations Security Council’s rejection of a resolution to impose a settlement outside of a negotiated agreement between the Israeli and Palestinian parties, violates past negotiated agreements with Israel and places yet another obstacle on the road to peace.  The unwise direction that the Palestinian Authority is taking, first with the failed attempt to gain statehood recognition by the United Nations Security Council and now the application to the ICC, flies in the face of logic.  The Palestinian Authority opens itself to scrutiny it cannot withstand, at the same time weakening its relationship the United States and further straining its ties with Israel.  The JCPA strongly supports the Obama Administration and Israeli government’s efforts to achieve a negotiated bilateral peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.  The parties need to negotiate, not litigate.”

In response to the rejection of the resolution introduced by Jordan on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to the United Nations Security Council, Susan W. Turnbull and Rabbi Steve Gutow, Chair and President respectively, of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs issued the following statement:  “The Jewish Council for Public Affairs enthusiastically praises the Obama Administration, in particular Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Ambassador Samantha Power, for their strong stand in support of a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians in opposition to a unilateral proposal that would have perpetuated conflict between the parties.  The proposed United Nations resolution, which called for the total removal of Israeli forces from the West Bank by late 2017, threatened the security of Israel, bypassed the bilateral peace process between Israel and the Palestinians and would have made it all but impossible for peace negotiations to resume.

The JCPA is very appreciative of  the actions of the United States and Australia. We continue to support these critical diplomatic efforts for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”