Shurat HaDin Outlines Bill to Protect Israel from ICC Investigation

    BNEI BRAK, ISRAEL, February 26, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- As per the Knesset bill outlines plan, if any Israelis or Israeli institutions forward any information to the ICC without approval from the Justice Ministry, it will result in imprisonment.

As the Shurat HaDin president, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, previously reported, the ICC did not investigate China, despite having ample evidence regarding its alleged crimes. However, it opened an investigation against Israel using underhanded tactics. To protect Israel against the political agenda, Shurat Hadin-Israel Law Center believes that Israel should stop cooperating with the ICC. Shurat HaDin has also prepared a bill for legislation to that effect. The bill has been prepared to block investigation in Israel by the ICC or investigating Israelis.

The US has had a similar law for many years, whereas Kenya also enforced the same law subject to ICC investigation. Following their footsteps, the Israeli Law Center believes that as Israel is not an ICC member, it is crucial that Israel should stop cooperating with the court. The proposed bill includes various steps to prevent investigations against Israel, such as:

1. Financial penalties and five-year imprisonment for anyone or any institution who forwards any kind of information to ICC or its representatives, either directly or indirectly
2. Ban on any financial ties, direct or indirect, with the ICC Prohibition on any governmental agency handing any type of information over to the ICC or its representatives without the Justice 3. Minister's approval Ban on handing over anyone the ICC wants to investigate or arrest
4. Banning ICC representatives from entering Israel or conducting any investigation within Israel either directly or through hired investigators.

The bill also proposes more prohibitions to protect Israeli interests against the ICC investigation. Shurat Hadin President Nitsana Darshan-Leitner stated, "Israel ought to do what the US did 20 years ago when the ICC was founded." She also said that Israel must prevent the ICC from taking action against Israelis. As per Darshan-Leitner, "Israel has an independent, strong law enforcement system. Whenever suspicion of 'war crimes' arises, Israeli authorities investigate the matter internally with the utmost seriousness."

As per Shurat Hadin representatives, the bill has been finalized and is ready to be presented to the 24th Knesset shortly.

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