DEFEND NUREMBERG’S LEGACY—JOIN THE ICC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was welcomed at the White House despite the outstanding International Criminal Court warrant accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity. U.N. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese warned that by protecting Netanyahu and attacking the ICC, the United States is helping the international criminal-law system built from the Nuremberg trials onward collapse. Nuremberg established that political and military leaders are not above the law. That principle cannot apply only to defeated enemies and governments the United States opposes. If international justice exempts American officials and allies such as Israel, it is not justice—it is impunity. I demand that: • House members immediately cosponsor H.Res. 1435 and press the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees to advance it. • Senators introduce and cosponsor a Senate companion calling for U.S. ratification of the Rome Statute and membership in the ICC. • Both chambers introduce and pass binding mirror legislation repealing the American Servicemembers’ Protection Act, including its “Hague Invasion Act” authority. • Congress end all sanctions, threats, funding restrictions, and retaliation against ICC judges, prosecutors, staff, witnesses, human-rights organizations, and U.N. experts such as Francesca Albanese. • Congress create clear federal procedures for cooperating with ICC investigations and executing lawful arrest and surrender requests. • Congress prohibit the United States from providing safe haven, diplomatic protection, or political interference to individuals wanted by the ICC. • Congress reject every carveout designed to shield U.S., Israeli, or other allied officials from impartial investigation and prosecution. • The President submit the Rome Statute to the Senate, and senators publicly commit to supporting ratification. The United States cannot celebrate the Nuremberg trials while dismantling their legacy whenever accountability reaches an ally. It cannot demand prosecution of adversaries while welcoming Netanyahu to the White House and punishing the officials seeking to enforce international law. Palestinian victims are entitled to the same justice as every other victim of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Cosponsor H.Res. 1435, introduce its Senate companion, and pass binding legislation ending U.S. obstruction of the ICC. No leader and no nation must be above the law.