The International Criminal Court's announcement Wednesday that it would launch an investigation into Israeli conduct in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip sent shockwaves throughout the country, drawing condemnation from both sides of the political divide.
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President Reuven Rivlin called the decision "scandalous" on Twitter and asserted Israel's right and duty to protect its citizens.
"The State of Israel is a strong, Jewish and democratic state, and it knows how to defend itself and also to investigate itself if necessary," the president tweeted. "We are proud of our soldiers, our sons and daughters. We will make sure that they are not harmed as a result of the decision."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was "the essence of anti-Semitism and hypocrisy." He added that "there is only one answer: to fight for the truth with all our might, all over the world, and to protect our soldiers."
Echoing similar sentiment, the head of the newly created right-wing party New Hope Chairman Gideon Sa'ar accused the ICC of having been "hijacked by sponsors of terror" and vowed to work with Israel's "allies and friends around the world to defend our moral army, and brave soldiers who risk their lives to keep us safe."
The ICC has allowed itself to be hijacked by sponsors of terror. This is a shameful day for the cause of justice. A government led by me will work with our allies and friends around the world to defend our moral army, and brave soldiers who risk their lives to keep us safe.
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) March 3, 2021
Right-wing party Yamina lambasted the ICC and called it "an anti-Semitic institution that encourages terrorism instead of fighting it."
"The IDF is and will continue to be the most moral army in the world. No fake investigation will prevent Israel from protecting its citizens," the party said in a statement.
Nitzan Horowitz , the chairman of the Left-wing party Meretz, said the settlements and right-wing policies helped to precipitate the move and added that "Israel needs a government that will stop the building of settlements and restart the peace process with the Palestinians."
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