House poised to pass bill that would sanction International Criminal Court for trying to arrest Netanyahu

The House is poised to pass a bill on Thursday that would sanction the International Criminal Court in protest of its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This legislation is one of the first priorities for the new Congress and is expected to move quickly through the Senate with the support of Republican Majority Leader John Thune.

The bill, originally introduced by Texas Reps. Chip Roy and Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast, has garnered bipartisan support, with 42 Democrats joining Republicans in voting for it during the last Congress. The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, recently requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif.

Critics of the ICC’s actions argue that the court is overstepping its bounds and interfering with the sovereignty of the United States and its allies. Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-minded Republican from Kentucky, questioned why the bill to protect Netanyahu was being prioritized so early in the new congressional term.

The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act would sanction any foreigner working to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute U.S. citizens or those of allied countries. It would also revoke any funds designated for the ICC and prohibit future financial support.

Senator Tom Cotton has introduced a companion bill in the Senate, and Thune is determined to pass the legislation and have it on President-elect Donald Trump’s desk before his inauguration. The bill aims to protect the sovereignty of the United States and its allies, including Israel, from what many view as unjust actions by the International Criminal Court.