Washington -The Senate Democrats blocked on Tuesday a measure led by Republicans that would sanction the International Criminal Court, arguing that the bill as a writing would be counterproductive for US allies and companies.
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat who voted with the Republicans to advance the legislation. In a vote of 54 to 45, the bill did not reach the 60 votes necessary to advance.
“The bill before us is poorly written and deeply problematic. It will have many involuntary consequences that undermine their main objective,” said Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, before the vote.
Earlier this year, the Chamber approved the legislation that would punish the CPI for the decision to seek the arrests of senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes.
The measure The lower camera passed last June With the support of 42 Democrats, further exposing democratic divisions on the war in Gaza. The bill was ignored by the Senate, which was later controlled by the Democrats.
The representative Chip Roy, Republican of Texas, and representative Brian Mast of Florida, the Republican President of the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee, reintroduced the bill at the beginning of this month, arguing that the “illegitimate” court represents a threat Massive for the sovereignty of the United States. ”
This time, 45 Democrats from the House of Representatives voted in favor.
The legislation seeks to sanction those involved in “any effort to investigate, arrest, stop or process any person protected from the United States and their allies.” The sanctions include revoking the US visas. In the possession of the CPI officials, block their entry into the US. UU. And avoid property transactions.
Although the Democrats have criticized the Court for trying to punish Israeli officials, those who oppose the bill have argued that the measure is too broad and could lead to consequences penalizing those whom it does not intend to point, such as the American technology companies that provide services to services to ICC services but has no role in making research decisions or prosecutors.
“These sanctions will make it almost impossible to involve the court on other issues in our national interest,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire on Tuesday in a speech on the floor, and added that the position of the Court could harden.
Shaheen, the main Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he tried unsuccessfully to negotiate changes in the bill with Senator Tom Cotton, the Republican of Arkansas directed by the Senate’s Intelligence Committee. Cotton said the concerns were unfounded.
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