Israel tells U.S. it will punish Palestinian Authority if ICC issues warrants

 Talk about arm-twisting. You need not go beyond what Israel does. It is threatening its partner in crime if its genocidal leaders are cited by the ICC. And read the reactions from the pimps and prostitutes of Netanyahu.- HS

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The Israeli government warned the Biden administration that if the International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, it will take retaliatory steps against the Palestinian Authority that could lead to its collapse, two Israeli and U.S. officials said.

Why it matters: Israeli officials have grown increasingly concerned over the last two weeks that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is preparing to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi.

Driving the news: The ICC, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, has been investigating since 2021 possible war crimes by both Israeli forces and Palestinian militants dating back to the 2014 Israel-Hamas war.

• That investigation has been extended to the Oct. 7 attacks and the war that has been raging in Gaza since then, according to the prosecutor's office.

Behind the scenes: Over the last few weeks, Israel has told the U.S. that it has information suggesting Palestinian Authority officials are pressing the ICC prosecutor to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, two Israeli officials said.

• U.S. and Israeli officials said Israel told the Biden administration that if arrests warrants are issued, it will consider the Palestinian Authority responsible and retaliate with strong action that could lead to its collapse.
• One possible action could be to freeze the transfer of tax revenues Israel collects for the Palestinian Authority. Without these funds, the Palestinian Authority would be bankrupt.
• A senior Israeli official told Axios the threat of ICC arrest warrants is real and stressed if such a scenario happens the Israeli cabinet would likely make an official decision to punish the Palestinian Authority, which could lead to its collapse.
• The White House and the Israeli Prime Minster's office declined to comment.
• Palestinian Authority officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The issue of potential ICC arrest warrants came up during a call between Netanyahu and President Biden last Sunday, with Netanyahu asking Biden for help, Axios reported earlier this week.

• Two U.S. officials said Biden told Netanyahu during the call that a report on Channel 12 in Israel that suggested the U.S. might have given a "green light" to the ICC to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders was not true.
• Biden stressed during the call the U.S. opposes an ICC investigation against Israel.

State of play: Two U.S. officials said the Biden administration has conveyed to ICC officials in private that arrest warrants against Israeli leaders would be a mistake and that the U.S. doesn't support the action.

• "We are quietly encouraging the ICC no to do it. It will blow up everything. Israel will retaliate against the Palestinian Authority," a U.S. official said.
• The official added that while there is pressure on the ICC prosecutor to issue such arrest warrants, the Biden administration doesn't think the move is as imminent as the Israelis think.

Between the lines: On Tuesday, White House spokesman John Kirby was asked during a briefing about threats by Republican lawmakers to pass legislation against the ICC, which were reported on Axios.

• Kirby said the U.S. is opposed to an ICC investigation against Israel but stressed it is also opposed to threats and intimidations against the court's judges.
• Israeli officials were alarmed by Kirby's remarks and asked the White House whether is represents a change in the U.S. position. The White House said there has been no change.
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• The International Criminal Court is being warned by members of Congress in both parties that arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials will be met with U.S. retaliation — and legislation to that effect is already in the works, Axios has learned.

  Why it matters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone so far as to urge President Biden to intervene to help prevent the warrants, Axios' Barak Ravid reported.

• • The ICC has been investigating allegations of war crimes against both the Israeli military and Palestinian militia groups dating back to 2014.
  • The White House declined to comment on Netanyahu's call with Biden but said "the ICC has no jurisdiction in this situation and we do not support its investigation."

  Driving the news: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) issued a statement on Monday calling the reported warrants "disgraceful" and "lawless."

  • "If unchallenged by the Biden administration, the ICC could create and assume unprecedented power to issue arrest warrants against American political leaders, American diplomats, and American military personnel," Johnson said.
  • Johnson called for the Biden administration to "immediately and unequivocally demand that the ICC stand down" and "use every available tool to prevent such an abomination."
  • The speaker joins several Republican lawmakers who have harshly criticized the ICC in recent days.

  What we're hearing: One Republican House member told Axios there is already legislation being drafted to respond to any warrants.

  • House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told Axios he expects a House version of Sen. Tom Cotton's (R-Ark.) bill to sanction ICC officials involved in investigating the U.S. and its allies, but added: "We hope it doesn't come to that."
  • Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said the U.S. should "think of whether we stay a signatory" to the Rome Statute — the treaty that established the ICC.
  • "We have to think about talking to some of the countries that have ratified [the treaty] as to whether they want to support the organization," he added.

  Zoom in: It's not just Republicans lashing out and warning the ICC that warrants could be met with a legislative response.

  • Staunchly pro-Israel Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) have both criticized the reported warrants, with Torres calling for "strong consequences from both Congress and the President."
  • "I know Congress will ensure consequences for such an absurd decision," Sherman said in a post on X.
  • An ICC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

  The other side: "The ICC is an independent body, and it needs to proceed with what they need to do," said Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a vocal critic of Israel.

  • Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), another progressive Israel critic, said "it's not a matter for Congress to be telling them what to be doing."

  Between the lines: Several Democratic lawmakers who have been critical of Israel said they believe it's premature to weigh in on the potential warrants before they are unveiled.

  • "Why don't we see what happens, and then we can evaluate based on whatever comes out," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) told Axios.
  • Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) said he has "concerns about the prosecution of the war" but "it's always a good idea to get the facts before making a judgment."