National security adviser John Bolton on Monday will label the International Criminal Court “illegitimate,” saying the White House will “fight back” if the court probes alleged war crimes by Americans in Afghanistan, according to a report.
“The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court,” Bolton will say, according to a draft of his speech obtained by Reuters.
Bolton also will say the State Department will announce the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s mission in Washington, DC, amid concerns that the Palestinians will seek an ICC investigation of Israel.
“The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel,” Bolton will say in a midday speech to the Federalist Society, a conservative group, in Washington, according to Reuters.
The Palestinians said they were undeterred from going to the ICC.
They also described the planned PLO mission closure as the latest pressure tactic by the White House, which has slashed funding to a UN agency for Palestinian refugees and to hospitals in East Jerusalem.
“We reiterate that the rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale, that we will not succumb to US threats and bullying,” Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said in a statement.
“Accordingly, we continue to call upon the International Criminal Court to open its immediate investigation into Israeli crimes.”
There was no immediate response from Israel, where government offices were closed for the Jewish new year.