House Dems Oppose Biden, Vote for ICC Sanctions

(ProsperNews.net) – Dozens of Democrats in the House of Representatives have defied President Biden and voted to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for seeking an arrest warrant on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy introduced a bill, backed by Brian Mast of Florida, that would ban ICC officials from entering or conducting property transactions in the United States. It passed through the House by 247 votes to 155 after 42 Democrats sided with the Republicans.

President Biden indicated he did not support the bill but stopped short of stating he would veto it. A White House statement said there are numerous other ways in which the United States can support Israel, and the President is keen to work with Congress to explore these. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that the President “fundamentally rejects” the ICC’s position, but sanctions were “unacceptable.”

President Biden rejected the proposed sanctions after Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated to a Congressional hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Biden administration was open to imposing punishments on the court for a decision he described as “totally wrongheaded.” The subsequent White House rejection, therefore, surprised lawmakers, as well as the Israeli Prime Minister, who said he was “disappointed” by the development.

The issue generated further headlines when it emerged that Amal Clooney, attorney and wife of Oscar winner and fierce Biden supporter George Clooney, was instrumental in the ICC’s action. Clooney, a regular Democrat donor and fundraiser, reportedly called the White House to complain after Blinken’s comments in the Senate indicated the Biden administration endorsed sanctions that could potentially apply to his wife.

The ICC’s lead prosecutor, Karim Khan, sought arrest warrants in May for Mr. Netanyahu, his Foreign Minister Yoav Gallant, and three senior Hamas officials, whom he accused of committing crimes against humanity in the conflict that erupted with the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on October 7 last year.