JERUSALEM – Israel’s foreign minister says the Palestinian president must be removed for peace talks to proceed after the International Criminal Court announced it is opening a probe into alleged Israeli war crimes.
Avigdor Lieberman said President Mahmoud Abbas must “pay the price” for initiating the ICC probe. Lieberman told Israel Radio Sunday that “We must get rid of Abu Mazen (Abbas)” for diplomacy to prevail. He said the U.S. must stop its financial assistance to the Palestinians.
Friday’s ICC announcement comes after the Palestinians acceded to the court’s treaty and recognized its jurisdiction dating back to before the last Gaza war. The probe could target alleged crimes by both Israel and the Palestinians.
The last round of U.S.-brokered peace talks collapsed last year.
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