Legislation that would have imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court in protest at its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister was blocked in the US Senate on Tuesday.
The chamber voted 54-45, meaning the measure, which had already passed the Republican-majority House of Representatives, could not get the 60 yes votes needed in the 100-member Senate to advance the bill.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only member of his party to vote in favor of the legislation.
“Deeply disappointed by the outcome of the ICC sanctions bill,” Fetterman wrote on X after the vote. “My vote follows Israel—not the ICC that equivocated the democratically elected leader of our special ally to the terrorists and rapists of Hamas.”
Deeply disappointed by the outcome of the ICC sanctions bill. My vote follows Israel—not the ICC that equivocated the democratically elected leader of our special ally to the terrorists and rapists of Hamas. https://t.co/ziqMAhNkWs
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 28, 2025
In a post on X, AIPAC thanked Fetterman for his “principled pro-Israel leadership” and for standing with Israel “against the ICC’s baseless attacks.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition condemned the Democrats’ vote, calling Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s “last-minute excuses” pathetic.
“Rogue prosecutor Karim Khan is seeking warrants for the arrest of Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials even though Israel, like the United States, does not recognize the ICC as a legitimate source of legal authority,” RJC said in a statement on X.
On X, Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed concern about the ICC targeting Americans and American soldiers in the future.
‘Criminals in the world have a friend’
“Last year, I committed to putting this bill on the floor when Republicans were in the majority,” Thune wrote. “Today, I’m following through on that promise.”
After the vote, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso wrote on X that “criminals in the world today have a friend — the International Criminal Court.”
Barrasso said the ICC targets Israel while letting “evil regimes around the world” off the hook.
“Right now Republicans are holding the ICC accountable with sanctions. Democrats are blocking us,” Barrasso wrote. “Why?”
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
