U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) signed a joint statement of four Republican and four Democratic Senators pledging bipartisanship collaboration against the International Criminal Court, to “strenuously object to the ICC’s actions against our ally, Israel, and take appropriate steps to help Israel and protect American personnel from future ICC action.” So far, steps mentioned have included legislation to sanction the ICC, and threats to apply military force against the court in The Hague, to free anyone the U.S. considers an “ally” whom the ICC puts on trial.
The statement actually argued that there’s no need for the ICC here, as Israel’s judicial system is independent and capable of handling the situation. For good measure, it also praised Israel’s military justice system, to which Palestinians in the Occupied Territories have had to answer, now for the last 57 years. For both, the statement affirmed: “We have great confidence in the Israeli judicial system’s ability to administer justice.”
Then Graham proceeded to explain to a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing that the ICC could come after them. He maintained that sanctions were necessary “to not only help our friends in Israel but protect ourselves over time.” Offering bipartisanship, he said: “We—hopefully, together—will find a way to register our displeasure with the ICC, because if they’ll do this to Israel, we’re next.” At the words “we’re next,” Graham received applause and cheers from protesters, who apparently considered the prospect a good idea. Not pleased, Graham could only retort, “Yeah, you can clap all you want.”
