S.Res. 570 — Introduced in Senate

III 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 570 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2020Mr. Cruz submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Opposing and condemning the potential prosecution of United States and Israeli nationals by the International Criminal Court. Whereas the United States has long objected to any assertion of jurisdiction by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over nationals of states that are not parties to the Rome Statute, including the United States and Israel, absent a referral from the United Nations Security Council or the consent of such a state; Whereas, on December 20, 2019, the Prosecutor of the ICC asked the ICC judges to confirm that the Court may exercise jurisdiction over the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, facilitating the potential prosecution of Israeli nations; Whereas, on March 5, 2020, the ICC authorized an investigation into the actions of United States Armed Forces and intelligence officials operating in Afghanistan, facilitating the prosecution of United States nationals; and Whereas prosecutions of nationals from states that are not parties to the Rome Statute, absent a referral from the United Nations Security Council or the consent of such a state, are illegitimate and terminally endanger the credibility of the ICC: Now, therefore, be it That— (1) the Senate opposes and condemns the potential prosecution of United States and Israeli nationals by the ICC; and (2) it should be the policy of the United States to pursue a resolution by the United Nations Security Council prohibiting the ICC from prosecuting nationals of states that are not parties to the Rome Statute, including the United States and Israel, absent a referral from the United Nations Security Council or the consent of such a state.