Hamas pushes Abbas to join ICC
▻http://middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-hamas-pushes-abbas-join-icc-316559675
The document already contains the signatures of the PLO executive committee, Fatah Central Committee and other PLO organisations such as the Popular Front and the Democratic Front. But Abbas himself is resisting, as a result of the forceful opposition of the United States and the European Union.
A tape in which Erekat criticised Abbas’s refusal to join the ICC was leaked recently. In it, Erekat is alleged to have criticised Abbas for stalling on the question of the ICC. Since then, Erekat has been at the forefront of a campaign to force Abbas’ hand. The PLO held a meeting recently in which all Palestinian factions put their name to joining the ICC.
Until now, Abbas has resisted pressure to sign the Rome Statute of 2002, the treaty that established the ICC, arguing that to do so would be to expose Palestinian militant groups to prosecution in the international court.
The Hamas decision has obliterated this line of defence, informed sources told the MEE. A source said the movement decided it would not allow itself to be used as an obstacle to a prosecution against Israel for war crimes. Secondly, the source said, Hamas is confident it would be able to rebut a prosecution of war crimes in the ICC.
‘Netanyahu won’t act without a cane to his ass’ — Erekat says, urging ICC on Abbas
▻http://mondoweiss.net/2014/06/netanyahu-without-urging.html