“The decision of the International Criminal Court is morally and legally bankrupt,” wrote Reuven Rivlin in an op-ed published in Le Figaro. 

Ahead of a visit to Paris and a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, in an op-ed column published in daily Le Figaro, called on France and other European countries to oppose the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to initiate investigations against IDF  soldiers.  

In the op-ed, the president stresses the importance of international law to the State of Israel and the misuse of it by the ICC, emphasizing that Israel will stand by IDF soldiers who protected its people when asked to do so.

‘’The decision by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel for possible war crimes is a dreadful misapplication of international law. A court established to deal with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community is being used a political weapon. It is a morally and legally bankrupt decision,’’ Rivlin wrote.

‘’Jews and Israelis, motivated by the horrors of the Second World War, were at the forefront of the establishment of today’s international legal bodies, including the International Criminal Court itself. We are deeply committed to the theory and the practice of ensuring that war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity are never allowed to go unpunished because domestic legal systems are unwilling or unable to prosecute individuals responsible for them.’’

He added: ‘’This is not the case with Israel. We have established beyond any doubt that we are both able and willing to investigate ourselves when allegations of this kind are brought.’’

The Israeli president stressed that  the ICC’s decision ‘’will perhaps make it even harder for Israelis and Palestinians to find common ground. Until the Court concludes its investigation, which could take several years, it is hard to see the two sides engaging in serious negotiations. At a time when the recent agreements between Israel and Arab countries make the prospect for such progress better than any time in the recent past, this is an act of perverse logic.’’

President Rivlin started Tuesday a visit to three European nations: Germany, Austria and France. He is accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi who in all the meetings described the failures of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and stressed the dangers of returning to the deal.