Minister Smotrich Calls for Collapsing of PA after ICC Announces Probe Against Israel

Addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Facebook, Smotrich said that Israel should disregard the ICC, as it is “a political and anti-Semitic body” as “everyone knows.”

In regards to the PA, which submitted the complaint against Israel, he called on Netanyahu to set a 48-hour ultimatum to the PA to withdraw the complaint, and if it fails to do so “immediately collapse it.”

Netanyahu “should have done this much earlier” when the PA received an observer status and filed the lawsuit in 2015, Smotrich said.

“The advantages inherent in the existence of the PA to the State of Israel have long been not worth the heavy diplomatic damage it causes us,” he said.

Minister Yuval Steinitz has previously called for the collapse of the PA if it sues Israel at the ICC.

Smotrich also called on Israel to destroy the illegal outpost of Khan Al Ahmar “tomorrow morning, “and to further raze an illegal outpost built by the Arabs and Europeans on a daily basis.

“In war as in war – collect a heavy toll on all sides. In the coming year, you will have an American backing and that is definitely enough” he concluded.

Israel over the weekend rejected the ICC’s announcement that it planned to launch a probe against Israel, noting that the ICC had no legal standing to do so, as Israel did not join the ICC and the PA did not have a status of a state and could therefore not submit a complaint.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has yet to announce any counteraction to the PA’s move and will convene to discuss possible courses of action on Sunday.

In regards to the PA, which submitted the complaint against Israel, he called on Netanyahu to set a 48-hour ultimatum to the PA to withdraw the complaint, and if it fails to do so “immediately collapse it.”

Netanyahu “should have done this much earlier” when the PA received an observer status and filed the lawsuit in 2015, Smotrich said.

“The advantages inherent in the existence of the PA to the State of Israel have long been not worth the heavy diplomatic damage it causes us,” he said.

Minister Yuval Steinitz has previously called for the collapse of the PA if it sues Israel at the ICC.

Smotrich also called on Israel to destroy the illegal outpost of Khan Al Ahmar “tomorrow morning, “and to further raze an illegal outpost built by the Arabs and Europeans on a daily basis.

“In war as in war – collect a heavy toll on all sides. In the coming year, you will have an American backing and that is definitely enough” he concluded.

Israel over the weekend rejected the ICC’s announcement that it planned to launch a probe against Israel, noting that the ICC had no legal standing to do so, as Israel did not join the ICC and the PA did not have a status of a state and could therefore not submit a complaint.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has yet to announce any counteraction to the PA’s move and will convene to discuss possible courses of action on Sunday.

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