France's decision to approve arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials has sent shockwaves through the international community. The move, made by Judge Nicolas Guillou and two of his colleagues on the pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has sparked outrage from Israel's closest ally, the United States.
The US has slapped sanctions on Guillou and his colleagues, placing them on a list of 15,000 individuals alongside al-Qaida terrorists and Vladimir Putin. The move is seen as an attempt to intimidate judges who dare to take on powerful nations and their allies.
But why did France's decision to approve the warrants matter so much? The answer lies in the ICC's jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory or by its citizens, which was granted after Palestine acceded to the court a decade ago. In this case, Israel's leaders are accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, with two US government agencies concluding that Israel was deliberately blocking humanitarian aid.
The ICC has faced intense pressure from Western countries, including France and Italy, to undermine its authority and legitimacy. The US and other allies have used their influence to discredit the court and avoid accountability for their own actions.
But this is a classic case of hypocrisy. The US and its allies are quick to condemn international law when it is applied to them or their closest allies, but they are much more willing to flout the law themselves. As one Republican senator put it, "the ICC is made for Africa and thugs like Putin, not democracies like Israel."
The decision by France's judges highlights the west's long unravelling commitment to international law. The US and its allies have consistently prioritized their own interests over the rule of law, using their power and influence to silence critics and undermine institutions that threaten their authority.
As Owen Jones notes, "western disdain for international law has rebounded as a strategic disaster." By waging a campaign against judges who apply the law consistently, the west is accelerating its own decline. Its hubris and refusal to accept accountability will ultimately lead to its downfall.
The US has slapped sanctions on Guillou and his colleagues, placing them on a list of 15,000 individuals alongside al-Qaida terrorists and Vladimir Putin. The move is seen as an attempt to intimidate judges who dare to take on powerful nations and their allies.
But why did France's decision to approve the warrants matter so much? The answer lies in the ICC's jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory or by its citizens, which was granted after Palestine acceded to the court a decade ago. In this case, Israel's leaders are accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, with two US government agencies concluding that Israel was deliberately blocking humanitarian aid.
The ICC has faced intense pressure from Western countries, including France and Italy, to undermine its authority and legitimacy. The US and other allies have used their influence to discredit the court and avoid accountability for their own actions.
But this is a classic case of hypocrisy. The US and its allies are quick to condemn international law when it is applied to them or their closest allies, but they are much more willing to flout the law themselves. As one Republican senator put it, "the ICC is made for Africa and thugs like Putin, not democracies like Israel."
The decision by France's judges highlights the west's long unravelling commitment to international law. The US and its allies have consistently prioritized their own interests over the rule of law, using their power and influence to silence critics and undermine institutions that threaten their authority.
As Owen Jones notes, "western disdain for international law has rebounded as a strategic disaster." By waging a campaign against judges who apply the law consistently, the west is accelerating its own decline. Its hubris and refusal to accept accountability will ultimately lead to its downfall.
... I mean, on one hand, it's totally fair that France is taking a stand against Israel's alleged war crimes - like, who doesn't want to see justice served? 
But then again, the US is basically bullying those French judges with sanctions and it's just so unfair 
... I don't get why they can't just let the judges do their job without all the drama and politics 
. At the same time, the ICC has been criticized for being biased towards certain countries and not holding everyone to the same standard - that does seem like a problem 
... So, did France make the right call? Or were they just getting played by the US again? 
i mean western countries are always talking about how important human rights and international law are but when it comes to actually following the rules and being held accountable, suddenly everyone's all like "nope, not us". 
I gotta say, this whole thing is wild 
. The west loves to talk about international law when it's convenient, but as soon as someone holds them accountable, they get all defensive 
. This isn't just about Israel or Palestine; it's about the west's refusal to accept accountability for its own actions. It's time for them to take responsibility for their role in perpetuating conflicts and human rights abuses 
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. The ICC is a vital institution that can help hold powerful nations accountable for their crimes. We need more countries like France standing up for justice and equality, not less 
. Like, isn't international law supposed to be about holding people in power accountable for their actions? 
It seems like the US and its allies are more interested in protecting themselves than following the rules. I don't get why they can't just admit that sometimes they do wrong things and apologize or make amends... instead of trying to discredit institutions that try to keep them honest 
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. Newsflash: just because you're a powerful nation doesn't mean you can just ignore international law and do whatever you want 
. Can't they just accept accountability for once? 
. Meanwhile, the US is still dodging accountability for its own human rights abuses and war crimes in places like Afghanistan and Iraq 
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If you're gonna sign up to a system like the ICC, then you gotta be willing to play by its rules 
The west's hypocrisy is staggering and it's going to come back to bite them hard 
meanwhile, france & its allies are just doing their job 
and btw, the icc isn't just for africa or 'thugs', it's for anyone who breaks the law 
like whats going on with these powerful ppl trying 2 intimidate judges who just doin their job 
they're basically saying "if you can't win on the battlefield, try to discredit the judges"