Fuck yeah we are
So was South Africa aiding other war criminals and countries genociding a neighbor just like a total whoopsies that doesn’t apply to them too?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66238766.amp
I get this is only from one minister, and I’m not going to really pay attention to it, but come on.
Whataboutism?
No question.
Setting aside (but stating) my stance that Israel’s policy of collective punishment against innocent Palestinian civilians is completely wrong and thus unconditional support from the US government for Israeli actions is also wrong - South Africa isn’t a good faith actor here.
What was South Africa’s official position last summer, as a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC and thus a nation obligated to arrest those with an ICC arrest warrant that step foot in their territory, about honoring their obligation to execute an arrest on the ICC warrant issued for Putin for war crimes should he step foot in their territory? It almost seems like they’re trying to distract from something or are maybe working towards mutual goals with some other entity (or entities) behind the scenes… Hmm.
Yes, but what does it mean if the USA is not a participant of the ICC? FAFO? Maybe it needs to happen.
The official position of the US is that they would retaliate, possibly by attacking the country holding their officials prisoner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Service-Members'_Protection_Act
This is because the US follows the ethical principle of “rules for thee, not for me”.
It means as much as it does for Isreal who also doesn’t participate in the ICC.
Technically, any American who is convicted (I’d imagine it could be President Biden and Anthony Blinken who they would try to prosecute) cannot travel to ICC countries otherwise they’d be arrested.
Even if they were tried and convicted nobody would do anything about it.
Can you imagine the shit show that would ensue if someone tried to arrest the US President as he visits their country.
Do it.
Do it, be hilarious. An African country threatening to arrest a US president. Please please do this.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor affirmed US House Speaker Mike Johnson’s prediction that the United States would be next if the International Criminal Court (ICC) is allowed to prosecute Israeli leadership, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported on Friday.
Pandor’s comments were addressed to an audience at a mosque in Cape Town, South Africa, MEMRI noted.
In the MEMRI video, the South African minister donned a black and white checkered keffiyeh and stood in front of a Palestinian flag.
During a news conference last month, Johnson told reporters that “if the ICC is allowed to threaten Israel’s leader, we know that America will be next.”
Speaking to the press in Tel Aviv, US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) echoed Johnson’s warning.
Pandor noted that a group of 140 international lawyers are currently working on a class action suit against non-Israelis, including South Africans, who have been serving in Israel’s military.
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