Senate Might Try Again to Pass ICC Sanctions Bill, Lawmaker Says
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Feb. 17 that he believes the Senate can still reach a compromise on legislation to sanction the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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“The hope is that our Democratic and Republican colleagues can take another shot at legislation to sanction the ICC,” Graham said at a press conference in Tel Aviv, where he and other members of a bipartisan Senate delegation met with Israeli officials, including Netanyahu. “I think there’s a breakthrough to be had where we could get 80 votes, and we’re going to go back to the drawing board.”
A House-passed ICC sanctions bill stalled in the Senate in January, as Republicans resisted changes Democrats proposed to prevent what they described as unintended effects of the legislation (see 2501280072). Senate Democrats have said they remain open to negotiating a compromise with Republicans (see 2502060061).
Enacting a bill into law could codify an executive order President Donald Trump signed Feb. 6 authorizing sanctions against ICC officials and others linked to the court (see 2502070022).
Graham said the U.S. should “heavily” sanction countries that try to help the ICC implement the arrest warrants. “My goal is to crush the concept that the ICC has unlimited jurisdiction to go anywhere they want to go and prosecute anybody they want to prosecute,” he said. "Israel cannot survive with its political leadership unable to travel."