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PROUD VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY 23 May 2024
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15 Iyar 5784
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Issue No.1368
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@JewishNewsUK
Sunak condemns ‘deeply unhelpful’ move by ICC Tories and Labour at odds after prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli PM
by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk @lmharpin
Rishi Sunak has condemned the “deeply unhelpful” actions of the International Criminal Court in seeking arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister, along with those for Hamas leaders. Arguing that there is no “moral equivalence” between the two sides in the wake of the 7 October attacks on Israel, the British prime minister insisted that the international court’s move would make “absolutely no difference” to wider peace in the Middle East. If granted by judges, the warrant would leave those sought unable to travel to more than 100 countries, including the UK, without risk of arrest. In the Commons yesterday, the prime minister said: “When it comes to the ICC, this is a deeply unhelpful development, which is of course still subject to a final decision. “There is no moral equivalence between a democratically elected government exercising its lawful right to self defence and the actions
of a terrorist group. The actions of the ICC do absolutely nothing to get a pause in the fighting, to get the hostages out or aid into Gaza.” Foreign secretary David Cameron also said in the Lords: “Of course we respect the independence of the ICC, just as we respect its independence they should respect the independence of politicians not to suddenly lose their voice and lose all their opinions about these things.” But shadow foreign secretary David Lammy sparked anger by defending the court in the Commons on Monday saying it was the “cornerstone” of international law. “Labour has been clear throughout this conflict that international law must be upheld,” Lammy said in parliament on Monday, after ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan filed applications for the arrests on Monday against Netanyahu, and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, as well as the commander of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, and Israel’s defense minister. On Wednesday, speaking at a Chatham House event Lammy said he and Labour believed in the rules based order, and that in his view politicians should concentrate on attempting Continued on page 3
NEWLYWEDS ARE 100 AND 102 The rabbi who married a couple with a combined age of 202 has spoken of his joy at seeing “two people whose smiles are evidence of the love they enjoy”. Rabbi Adam Wohlberg, of Philadelphia’s Temple Sinai, officiated at the wedding of Bernie Littman and Marjorie Fiterman. Both live in a care home in the city
ISRAEL V SCOTLAND MATCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Scotland women’s Euro 2025 match against Israel will be played behind closed doors following a decision to move branded “deeply disturbing”. The Scottish FA said that because of “updated intelligence and following extensive security consultations with all key parties” it had decided the Euro 2025 quali-
fier at Hampden Park on 31 May would be played without spectators in the ground. “The stadium operations team were alerted to the potential for planned disruptions to the match and as a consequence we have no option but to play the match without supporters in attendance,” its statement added.
“Measures are in place to provide an automatic and full refund to supporters who have already purchased tickets for this match. We apologise for any inconvenience but the safety of supporters, players, team staff and officials is of paramount importance”. The Jewish Leadership Council said it was “deeply disturbed” at the
fact fans would not be able to attend. In a social media post, the JLC said: “Sporting boycotts of Israel do nothing to help the people of the region and instead import division from an overseas conflict to the detriment of our own community cohesion. Sport should unite us”. Nicola Livingston, of the Scottish Council of Jewish Commu-
nities, told Jewish News: “I am pleased that the Scottish FA did not buckle in the face of opposition, and that the match will continue to take place. But I am concerned that we still face a noisy minority, and it’s crazy that we cannot go about our lives as normal, taking part in regular activities and going to football matches.”
Britain will head to the polls on July 4 - full story www.Jewishnews.co.uk