Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi thanked Brazil on Sunday for its support of Israel as the International Criminal Court decided to launch a war-crimes probe against the Jewish state.
“Israel is thankful for Brazil's steadfast position against the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to launch a [war crimes] probe [against the Jewish state]," Ashkenazi told his Brazilian counterpart, Ernesto Araujo, during a meeting with a Brazilian diplomatic delegation in Jerusalem.
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Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Jerusalem
(Photo: Foreign Ministry)
“It is a decision that violates international law and distances the possibility to advance negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.”
Last week, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced she had opened a formal probe into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories, consisting of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
The decision led to a stinging backlash from the Israeli establishment, with officials urging allies around the world to exert diplomatic pressure against the ICC.
Ashkenazi and Araujo further discussed Middle East developments, with the former IDF chief stipulating landmark changes that have taken place after four Arab nations — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco — have signed U.S.-brokered peace agreements with Israel, dubbed the Abraham Accords.
Ashkenazi warned of increasing Iranian efforts in recent days to destabilize the region.
“We clearly identify Iran’s fingerprints in recent attempts to harm Israeli targets around the world. The international community must ensure that Iran ceases its efforts to reach the threshold of military nuclear technology and fulfills its commitments to the last detail,” Ashkenazi asserted.