Report: US considers punitive steps against Palestinian diplomats

The Trump administration “is considering action against Palestinian diplomats in Washington after Ramallah asked the International Criminal Court on Tuesday to investigate alleged Israeli crimes”, reported the Times of Israel.

As explained by the site, “according to a US law passed in December 2015, the Palestinian Authority is subject to penalties if it pursues the prosecution of Israelis at the Hague-based ICC.”

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Such consequences include the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s mission to the US.

“We are reviewing this latest development to determine if it requires changes to the operating status of the PLO office in Washington, D.C., which has been limited to activities related to achieving a lasting, comprehensive peace between the Israelis and Palestinians since November 2017,” a National Security Council spokesperson said.

“The US continues to believe that direct negotiations between the two parties are the only way to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace,” the NSC official said. “Involving the ICC does not get us closer to peace.”

READ: Palestinians ask ICC to investigate Israel human rights violations