US strongly disagrees with ICC Prosecutor’s decision to open preliminary examination into situation in Palestine – USDOS statement/Non-UN document

Statement on ICC Prosecutor's Decision

Press Statement

Jeff Rathke

Director, Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Press Relations

Washington, D.C.

January 16, 2015

We strongly disagree with the ICC Prosecutor's action today. As we have said repeatedly, we do not believe that Palestine is a state and therefore we do not believe that it is eligible to join the ICC. It is a tragic irony that Israel, which has withstood thousands of terrorist rockets fired at its civilians and its neighborhoods, is now being scrutinized by the ICC. The place to resolve the differences between the parties is through direct negotiations, not unilateral actions by either side. We will continue to oppose actions against Israel at the ICC as counterproductive to the cause of peace.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/01/236082.htm