An immense majority of 106 out of 120 members of Knesset from the coalition and opposition signed a statement on Monday condemning the announcement by ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan that he intends to request arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of crimes against humanity for Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war.
The statement read:
“The state of Israel is in the midst of a just war against a criminal terror organization. The IDF is the most moral army in the world. Our heroic soldiers are fighting with courage and dedication that has no second, according to international law, like no other army has ever done.
“The scandalous comparison by the Hague prosecutor between Israel’s leaders and the heads of terror organizations is an unerasable historic crime and a clear expression of antisemitism. We reject this with revulsion. 80 years after the Holocaust, no one will block the Jewish state from defending itself.”
Historic majority
The petition was signed by all the members of Knesset save for those from the Hadash-Ta’al, Ra’am, and Labor parties.
The petition was first circulated in a closed-door meeting of the Likud party on Monday afternoon. However, the coalition eventually decided to send it to all of the Knesset members.
Labor MK Naama Lazimi explained her party’s choice not to sign the statement. She called it “meaningless” and a “pawn in Bibi’s game to receive legitimization and fortify his corrupt and bad government. Lazimi added that while she also thought the ICC decision was “disgraceful”, it was also part of Netanyahu’s “total failure” in running the war.
Later, an announcement was published on behalf of the entire Labor Party, stating, “Patriotism means supporting your country at all times and your government only when it deserves it.” (Mark Twain)
“The Labor Party is a Zionist party fighting for the State of Israel and its security and against Netanyahu and his corrupt and destructive rule. As soon as it was published, the leader of the Labor Party Merav Michaeli MK came out against the scandalous and dangerous statement of the prosecutor at The Hague.
Therefore, the Labor Party will continue to defend the State of Israel, in every arena, and will not participate in campaigns designed to strengthen Netanyahu and his rule. We thank President Biden for his uncompromising support for the State of Israel and his firm stand by our side even today.
This is the role of the Labor Party as an opposition party in a democratic country.”
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