Israel Matzav: 'War crimes' investigation unlikely

'War crimes' investigation unlikely

The Scotsman explains why a 'war crimes' investigation of Israel or Hamas by the International Criminal Court is unlikely, notwithstanding the Goldstone Report.

But the chances of the ICC being ordered into action are slight. The UN General Assembly is unable to order a war crimes investigation by the ICC. Only the Security Council can do that, and that is almost certainly not going to happen.

The United States fears that an investigation by the ICC will derail any chances of starting a new Middle East peace process. Certainly, it is hard to see how meaningful negotiations could start among statesmen under threat of war crimes indictment.

The result is that the US will veto any vote on the ICC that comes before the Security Council – and it will not be alone. At least three of the permanent members, Britain, France and Russia, are likely to take the same line, and for the same reasons, blocking any move in the Security Council to bring the ICC into action.

And I'm sure that the fact that the US, Britain, France and Russia could find themselves facing a similar tribunal for similar actions taken in war has nothing at all to do with the fact that all four powers are likely to exercise their vetoes. Not to mention China.

Israel Matzav: 'War crimes' investigation unlikely