In her first call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu since taking office, US vice president Kamala Harris reiterated Washington’s opposition to the International Criminal Court's probe of alleged war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
They “noted their respective governments’ opposition to the International Criminal Court’s attempts to exercise its jurisdiction over Israeli personnel,” the White House said.
The ICC investigation, which covers events dating back to 13 June 2014, was lauded by Palestinians and heavily criticised by the US and Israel.
It was also condemned by some Jewish groups, with Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl warning it will “will only further polarise Israelis and Palestinians.”
Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in her announcement the probe will “take the same principled, non-partisan, approach that it has adopted in all situations over which its jurisdiction is seized.”
During the call, Ms Harris “expressed strong support for Israel’s recent groundbreaking normalisation agreements with countries in the Arab and Muslim world” and discussed Iran’s nuclear programme and its “dangerous regional behaviour,” the White House said.
The US said last month it was prepared to join EU-brokered talks with Iran, signalling a potential path to reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.
Former president Donald Trump pulled out of the accord in 2018 in a move hailed by Mr Netanyahu at the time as “courageous leadership.”
