RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories - The Palestinians moved Wednesday to join the International Criminal Court as a new avenue for action against Israel after the UN Security Council rejected a resolution on ending the occupation.
The Palestinians hope ICC membership will pave the way for war crimes prosecutions against Israeli officials for their actions in the occupied territories.
But Israel said it is Palestinian crimes that would be exposed to the judgement of the Hague-based court.
Tuesday's vote at the Security Council came after a three-month Palestinian campaign to win support for a resolution that would have set a timeframe for ending the Israeli occupation.
Israel hailed the rejection as a victory, saying it dealt a blow to Palestinian efforts to diplomatically embarrass and isolate the Jewish state.
The Palestinians denounced as outrageously shameful the failure of the text to win the necessary nine votes for passage.
The resolution would have set a 12-month deadline for Israel to reach a final peace deal with the Palestinians and called for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territories by the end of 2017.
Council heavyweights China, France and Russia were among eight countries voting in favour, while the United States and Australia voted against.
Nigeria, which had been expected to support the resolution, was among five abstentions, which included Britain, Rwanda, Lithuania and South Korea.
Nigeria had assured the Palestinians it would support them, but abstained after lobbying efforts by Israel and Washington.
The failure to win the nine votes necessary for adoption spared Washington having to wield its veto, which would have caused it embarrassment with key Arab allies.
But it was also a diplomatic blow for the Palestinians, who had counted on the symbolic victory of nine votes, even though the resolution would in all likelihood have vetoed by the United States.
Speaking Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his special thanks to Nigeria and Rwanda.
This is what tipped the scales, he said.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the failure of the Palestinian vote at the Security Council should teach the Palestinians that provocations and attempts to force Israel into unilateral processes will not achieve anything -- quite the opposite.
But Russia said the council's failure to pass the resolution was a strategic error.
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi expressed regret over the outcome, criticising the African nations that abstained and pledging to continue intensive Arab diplomatic activity in support of the Palestinian cause.
AFP
