AIPAC commends the House for adopting the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act (H.R. 8282), which imposes sanctions on foreign persons aiding the International Criminal Court's (ICC) morally bankrupt and legally baseless attack against Israel.

This legislation responds to the announcement by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, of his intention to seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC's attack on Israel is a dangerous precedent that could be used in future efforts against America. Since the court’s establishment, Democratic and Republican presidents have chosen not to join the ICC as they feared politically motivated trials that could impact our citizens and soldiers. This case affirms that decision.

Key provisions of the legislation include:

• Finds the ICC’s actions against Israel are “illegitimate and baseless” and “create a damaging precedent that threatens the United States, Israel, and all United States partners who have not submitted to the ICC’s jurisdiction.”
• Requires the president to impose sanctions on foreign individuals who have “directly engaged in or otherwise aided any effort by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute a protected person.”
• Sanctions include an asset freeze and visa ban. Immediate family members of sanctioned individuals are also subject to the visa ban.
• Provides the president flexibility to waive sanctions, on a case-by-case basis, if the waiver is determined to be vital to the national security interests of the United States.

We thank House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul, Rep. Chip Roy, and Rep. Brian Mast for leading this measure.

AIPAC urges the Senate to adopt this important legislation.