25 jan 2015
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman called on the central elections committee to disqualify the new Arab coalition of parties from contesting the new Knesset election.
The four Arab parties, Raam (United Arab List), Ta'al (Arab Movement for Renewal), Balad (National Democratic Assembly) and Arab-Jewish party Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) had agreed Thursday to run on a joint slate in the upcoming Knesset election.
In a petition to be filed with the election committee, Lieberman, head of Yisrael Beytenu, stated that "those who cast their lot with Balad, whose whole raison d'être is to support terror groups and cooperate with Israel’s enemies, do not deserve to be part of the Knesset."
In response, the new Arab list said that seeking to ban it from the elections is "another populist step by corrupt and racist Lieberman."
Ayman Odeh, head of the Arab coalition, said the list would be stronger than Lieberman, whose party has dropped in the polls in the wake of a large-scale graft scandal.
Odeh said the goal was to prevent the Israeli right-wing from winning the coming elections.
In another context, the Hebrew radio said that Lieberman would send during his visit to Russia soon a reassuring message to Syria, Iran and Hezbollah underlining that Tel Aviv "do not seek to escalate the situation after its deadly attack in the Golan area.
The radio added that Lieberman would visit Russia and China to discuss the tension that Israel had caused recently on its border with Lebanon.
The four Arab parties, Raam (United Arab List), Ta'al (Arab Movement for Renewal), Balad (National Democratic Assembly) and Arab-Jewish party Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) had agreed Thursday to run on a joint slate in the upcoming Knesset election.
In a petition to be filed with the election committee, Lieberman, head of Yisrael Beytenu, stated that "those who cast their lot with Balad, whose whole raison d'être is to support terror groups and cooperate with Israel’s enemies, do not deserve to be part of the Knesset."
In response, the new Arab list said that seeking to ban it from the elections is "another populist step by corrupt and racist Lieberman."
Ayman Odeh, head of the Arab coalition, said the list would be stronger than Lieberman, whose party has dropped in the polls in the wake of a large-scale graft scandal.
Odeh said the goal was to prevent the Israeli right-wing from winning the coming elections.
In another context, the Hebrew radio said that Lieberman would send during his visit to Russia soon a reassuring message to Syria, Iran and Hezbollah underlining that Tel Aviv "do not seek to escalate the situation after its deadly attack in the Golan area.
The radio added that Lieberman would visit Russia and China to discuss the tension that Israel had caused recently on its border with Lebanon.
24 jan 2015
Arab parties in Israel announced they would be running in the upcoming Israeli Knesset election, scheduled for March 17, in a unified list that could increase their representation from 11 to a minimum of 12-15 seats. The lists represents all parties, including Islamist and communist movements.
The agreement came following negotiation sessions that took place over the past five weeks, with the intention of forming a unified list that represents all Palestinians in the country, regardless of their affiliations and faiths.
The parties initially agreed to run in the election in one list or two at most, especially after Israel raised the required minimum of votes from %2 to %3, an issue that was seen as an attempt to limit the number of Arab seats.
The first fifteen seats of the list include the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, with five seats, including a seat for a Jewish legislator, and four seats for the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement.
The agreement includes four seats for the National Democratic Assembly and two for the Arab Movement for Change, while smaller parties will have rotating seats, should the unified bloc fail to garner more than 15 seats.
Mohammad Ali Taha, head of the Unity Committee that ran the negotiations between different parties, said in a press conference on Friday evening that the list “symbolizes hope for the people,” and comes “to prevent Israel’s right-wing parties from returning to power.”
The names of candidates heading the list are Ayman Odah, Masoud Ghaneyem, Jamal Zahakla, Ahmad Tibi, ‘Aida Touma, Abdul-Hakim Hajj Yahia, Hani Zaobi, Taleb Abu ‘Arar, Yousef Jabarin, Bassel Ghattas, Abdullah Abu Ma’rouf, Jom’a az-Zabarqa, Sa’id al-Kharroumi and Dov Khenin.
Ramez Jarayse, a leader of the Democratic Front, said forming this unified list is coherent with the current changes on the ground, on the national, regional and international levels, and is essential to counter the Israeli attempts to keep the Arabs away from the political arena.
“We have a lot in common ground work, larger than our differences,” he said, “we are forming a partnership; each party will still be independent in its social stances, its own ideology and politics.”
National Assembly Legislator, Dr. Jamal Zahalka, described the unified list as a historic event that could rewrite the history of Israeli politics.
“This is a historic day, we might not be aware of that, but we should, we want to thank the thousands, the parties, every person who pushed for unity,” he said, “This unity wasn't born just after a few weeks of talks, but after long months, this is the first time Islamists, Communists, Nationalists and leftists unite in one single coalition.”
Knesset Member Massoud Ghanayem of the Islamic Movement called on all Arabs in the country to support the unified list.
“Do not disappoint us, support the new birth, the newborn is you, is unity; to those who say we cannot unite, I say we are united,” he said “yesterday I was representing the Islamic Movement in the negotiations to get the largest number of seats, today we are all one, united in one list, hoping for a larger Arab representation.”
“We urge you to march in the thousands, to vote, to slap Lieberman who fears our unity, let us act on ensuring a large Arab representation,” Ghanayem said, “Let our representation reach the Negev, reach every part of the country.”
Member of Knesset Hanin Zoabi of the National Democratic Assembly said unity needs to produce a suitable political atmosphere, to overcome strategic differences.
“Those who boycott the Knesset election should support this unified list,” Zoabi said, “Unity’s main goals are countering carelessness, despair and fear; we have a struggle, and a mission to regain the public trust in Arab parties.”
She also said the new list should transform the Arab parties into a new era that dictates new rules to Israeli politics.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman of the extremist Israel Our Home Party was angered by the latest developments, and alleged that this unity targets Israel’s very existence.
“Now we see what they always kept hidden, what we already knew, their true mission,” Lieberman said, “Whether they are Islamist, Communists or Jihadists, they are all united to bring an end to Israel as a Jewish State.”
The agreement came following negotiation sessions that took place over the past five weeks, with the intention of forming a unified list that represents all Palestinians in the country, regardless of their affiliations and faiths.
The parties initially agreed to run in the election in one list or two at most, especially after Israel raised the required minimum of votes from %2 to %3, an issue that was seen as an attempt to limit the number of Arab seats.
The first fifteen seats of the list include the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, with five seats, including a seat for a Jewish legislator, and four seats for the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement.
The agreement includes four seats for the National Democratic Assembly and two for the Arab Movement for Change, while smaller parties will have rotating seats, should the unified bloc fail to garner more than 15 seats.
Mohammad Ali Taha, head of the Unity Committee that ran the negotiations between different parties, said in a press conference on Friday evening that the list “symbolizes hope for the people,” and comes “to prevent Israel’s right-wing parties from returning to power.”
The names of candidates heading the list are Ayman Odah, Masoud Ghaneyem, Jamal Zahakla, Ahmad Tibi, ‘Aida Touma, Abdul-Hakim Hajj Yahia, Hani Zaobi, Taleb Abu ‘Arar, Yousef Jabarin, Bassel Ghattas, Abdullah Abu Ma’rouf, Jom’a az-Zabarqa, Sa’id al-Kharroumi and Dov Khenin.
Ramez Jarayse, a leader of the Democratic Front, said forming this unified list is coherent with the current changes on the ground, on the national, regional and international levels, and is essential to counter the Israeli attempts to keep the Arabs away from the political arena.
“We have a lot in common ground work, larger than our differences,” he said, “we are forming a partnership; each party will still be independent in its social stances, its own ideology and politics.”
National Assembly Legislator, Dr. Jamal Zahalka, described the unified list as a historic event that could rewrite the history of Israeli politics.
“This is a historic day, we might not be aware of that, but we should, we want to thank the thousands, the parties, every person who pushed for unity,” he said, “This unity wasn't born just after a few weeks of talks, but after long months, this is the first time Islamists, Communists, Nationalists and leftists unite in one single coalition.”
Knesset Member Massoud Ghanayem of the Islamic Movement called on all Arabs in the country to support the unified list.
“Do not disappoint us, support the new birth, the newborn is you, is unity; to those who say we cannot unite, I say we are united,” he said “yesterday I was representing the Islamic Movement in the negotiations to get the largest number of seats, today we are all one, united in one list, hoping for a larger Arab representation.”
“We urge you to march in the thousands, to vote, to slap Lieberman who fears our unity, let us act on ensuring a large Arab representation,” Ghanayem said, “Let our representation reach the Negev, reach every part of the country.”
Member of Knesset Hanin Zoabi of the National Democratic Assembly said unity needs to produce a suitable political atmosphere, to overcome strategic differences.
“Those who boycott the Knesset election should support this unified list,” Zoabi said, “Unity’s main goals are countering carelessness, despair and fear; we have a struggle, and a mission to regain the public trust in Arab parties.”
She also said the new list should transform the Arab parties into a new era that dictates new rules to Israeli politics.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman of the extremist Israel Our Home Party was angered by the latest developments, and alleged that this unity targets Israel’s very existence.
“Now we see what they always kept hidden, what we already knew, their true mission,” Lieberman said, “Whether they are Islamist, Communists or Jihadists, they are all united to bring an end to Israel as a Jewish State.”
23 jan 2015
A top Israeli opposition leader has slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy, saying it is dragging Tel Aviv into crisis.
Hatnuah party leader Tzipi Livni accused Netanyahu of leading Tel Aviv to “crisis and diplomatic isolation,” amid mounting criticism of his handling of US relations.
The comments by the former justice minister and lead negotiator with Palestinians followed the White House’s announcement that Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama will not meet during the Israeli prime minister’s visit to address the US Congress in March.
Tel Aviv-Washington tensions on the rise
US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday invited Netanyahu to address a joint session of the new Republican-controlled Congress in March, an invitation the White House called a “departure from protocol.”
An unnamed senior US official said Netanyahu “spat in our face” by accepting an invitation to address the US Congress without coordinating with Obama.
"Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price," the official said on Friday.
The incident marks increased friction in the relationship between the Israeli prime minister and the Obama administration, partially over the perception that Bibi’s trip has been cooked up by him and the Republicans to pressure the White House over the issue of Iranian nuclear negotiations.
Obama has warned Netanyahu to stop encouraging US congressmen to pass new sanctions legislation against Iran.
The US president threatened to veto any Iran sanctions legislation during his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Geneva deal
Iran and the six world powers are in talks to secure a final full-blown deal over Tehran’s nuclear work.
Since the interim deal was agreed in Geneva in November 2013, the negotiating sides have missed two deadlines to ink a final agreement.
The two sides now seek to reach a high-level political agreement by March 1 and to confirm the full technical details of the accord by July 1.
Iranian retaliation
During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss city of Davos on Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said if the US Congress imposes fresh sanctions on Tehran, the Iranian parliament (Majlis) will retaliate by adopting a bill to further expand the country's nuclear enrichment level.
Hatnuah party leader Tzipi Livni accused Netanyahu of leading Tel Aviv to “crisis and diplomatic isolation,” amid mounting criticism of his handling of US relations.
The comments by the former justice minister and lead negotiator with Palestinians followed the White House’s announcement that Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama will not meet during the Israeli prime minister’s visit to address the US Congress in March.
Tel Aviv-Washington tensions on the rise
US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday invited Netanyahu to address a joint session of the new Republican-controlled Congress in March, an invitation the White House called a “departure from protocol.”
An unnamed senior US official said Netanyahu “spat in our face” by accepting an invitation to address the US Congress without coordinating with Obama.
"Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price," the official said on Friday.
The incident marks increased friction in the relationship between the Israeli prime minister and the Obama administration, partially over the perception that Bibi’s trip has been cooked up by him and the Republicans to pressure the White House over the issue of Iranian nuclear negotiations.
Obama has warned Netanyahu to stop encouraging US congressmen to pass new sanctions legislation against Iran.
The US president threatened to veto any Iran sanctions legislation during his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Geneva deal
Iran and the six world powers are in talks to secure a final full-blown deal over Tehran’s nuclear work.
Since the interim deal was agreed in Geneva in November 2013, the negotiating sides have missed two deadlines to ink a final agreement.
The two sides now seek to reach a high-level political agreement by March 1 and to confirm the full technical details of the accord by July 1.
Iranian retaliation
During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss city of Davos on Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said if the US Congress imposes fresh sanctions on Tehran, the Iranian parliament (Majlis) will retaliate by adopting a bill to further expand the country's nuclear enrichment level.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner
White House: Netanyahu Visit 'Departure From Protocol'
Hours after the State of the Union address by U.S. President Obama, Boehner had invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address Congress.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the U.S. Congress on March 3. The date of the foreign leader's visit was announced Thursday by House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner. The White House reports that President Obama does not intend to meet with Netanyahu.
The Israeli Prime Minister has been invited by Boehner to speak about the dangers presented by a nuclear Iran. When asked Thursday about the planned visit, the White House responded that respecting "long-standing practice and principle," the president does not meet with heads of state close to elections in their respective country.
It is speculated that Netanyahu was invited without consultation with the White House. The U.S. and P5+1 states including France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia, have been in negotiations with Iran as of late and are working toward narrowing the gap between nations.
The Republicans are interested in sending a "clear message to the White House -- and the world -- about our commitment to Israel and our allies," Boehner said Wednesday.
White House: Netanyahu Visit 'Departure From Protocol'
Hours after the State of the Union address by U.S. President Obama, Boehner had invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address Congress.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the U.S. Congress on March 3. The date of the foreign leader's visit was announced Thursday by House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner. The White House reports that President Obama does not intend to meet with Netanyahu.
The Israeli Prime Minister has been invited by Boehner to speak about the dangers presented by a nuclear Iran. When asked Thursday about the planned visit, the White House responded that respecting "long-standing practice and principle," the president does not meet with heads of state close to elections in their respective country.
It is speculated that Netanyahu was invited without consultation with the White House. The U.S. and P5+1 states including France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia, have been in negotiations with Iran as of late and are working toward narrowing the gap between nations.
The Republicans are interested in sending a "clear message to the White House -- and the world -- about our commitment to Israel and our allies," Boehner said Wednesday.
22 jan 2015
A captured scene of the video released by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about the history of the games
Israel has been omitted from a video recently released by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recounting the history of the continental soccer games.
Israel was part of the games before Arab and Islamic countries demanded in 1974 that AFC expel the Zionist entity from the competition. The tournament in those days accommodated a lower number of teams and the Israeli football team even managed to win the games.
However, a video recently released by the AFC, which was reportedly made by an external agency, has omitted Israel from its content. No reason has been provided for the move, although it seems to be in line with AFC’s policy to not upset its huge audience in the Arab and Islamic states.
Also earlier in January, a giant publication house in the United States sold atlases with no territory named Israel to English-speaking schools in some Persian Gulf countries.
HarperCollins Publishers said including the name of Israel in the maps would have been “unacceptable” to customers in the Persian Gulf region. The publisher later regretted the decision under huge pressure from pro-Israeli media and lobby groups.
Arab Muslims in the Persian Gulf and Middle East see the Israeli entity as completely illegitimate as it was established in 1948 in the territories that were occupied illegally. Since then the entity has pursued a policy of expansion mainly through forced evacuation of people, expansion of settlements and waging war on defenseless civilians.
Israel has been omitted from a video recently released by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recounting the history of the continental soccer games.
Israel was part of the games before Arab and Islamic countries demanded in 1974 that AFC expel the Zionist entity from the competition. The tournament in those days accommodated a lower number of teams and the Israeli football team even managed to win the games.
However, a video recently released by the AFC, which was reportedly made by an external agency, has omitted Israel from its content. No reason has been provided for the move, although it seems to be in line with AFC’s policy to not upset its huge audience in the Arab and Islamic states.
Also earlier in January, a giant publication house in the United States sold atlases with no territory named Israel to English-speaking schools in some Persian Gulf countries.
HarperCollins Publishers said including the name of Israel in the maps would have been “unacceptable” to customers in the Persian Gulf region. The publisher later regretted the decision under huge pressure from pro-Israeli media and lobby groups.
Arab Muslims in the Persian Gulf and Middle East see the Israeli entity as completely illegitimate as it was established in 1948 in the territories that were occupied illegally. Since then the entity has pursued a policy of expansion mainly through forced evacuation of people, expansion of settlements and waging war on defenseless civilians.
21 jan 2015
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Thai laborers employed in Israeli farms are being abused in a series of highly unfavorable working conditions.
According to the HRW’s “A Raw Deal: Abuses of Thai Workers in Israel’s Agricultural Sector” report, which was published on Wednesday, some 25,000 Thai workers are suffering from “low pay, excessive working hours, hazardous working conditions, and poor housing.”
The 48-page report, which is based on interviews with 173 Thai workers, said the migrants “were paid less than the legal minimum wage, forced to work far more hours than the legal limit, exposed to unsafe working conditions, and had difficulties if they tried to change employers.”
Many of the workers were reportedly given “makeshift and inadequate” accommodation.
The report said that, while Israel “depends to a large extent on the labor of Thai migrant workers,” it is “doing far too little to uphold their rights and protect them from exploitation.”
An Israeli NGO, The Workers Hotline, has said its findings support the report by the HRW.
“The Israeli agricultural sector is a greenhouse for violations of migrant workers’ labour and human rights,” the Israeli NGO said in a recent statement, citing the “lack of enforcement” as the main cause for the situation of migrant workers in Israel.
According to the HRW’s “A Raw Deal: Abuses of Thai Workers in Israel’s Agricultural Sector” report, which was published on Wednesday, some 25,000 Thai workers are suffering from “low pay, excessive working hours, hazardous working conditions, and poor housing.”
The 48-page report, which is based on interviews with 173 Thai workers, said the migrants “were paid less than the legal minimum wage, forced to work far more hours than the legal limit, exposed to unsafe working conditions, and had difficulties if they tried to change employers.”
Many of the workers were reportedly given “makeshift and inadequate” accommodation.
The report said that, while Israel “depends to a large extent on the labor of Thai migrant workers,” it is “doing far too little to uphold their rights and protect them from exploitation.”
An Israeli NGO, The Workers Hotline, has said its findings support the report by the HRW.
“The Israeli agricultural sector is a greenhouse for violations of migrant workers’ labour and human rights,” the Israeli NGO said in a recent statement, citing the “lack of enforcement” as the main cause for the situation of migrant workers in Israel.
20 jan 2015
The Environment Quality Authority (EQA) voiced deep concern that a solemn ecological disequilibrium and air contamination would hit the West Bank city of Ramallah due to the mounds of trash piled up by the Israeli occupation authorities.
The EQA raised alarm bells over a premeditated Israeli scheme aimed at contaminating the Palestinian ecosystem, particularly in western Ramallah city.
The Environment Authority dubbed Israel’s exploitation of the area as a dumpsite “an illegal crime prohibited under the international law.”
An adverse change has hit Ramallah’s ecological system due to Israel’s misuse of such Palestinian villages as Shaqba, Rentis, and Ni’lin, as garbage dumps.
Head of the Environment Authority, Adala al-Atira, said during a stopover in Ramallah’s village of Shaqba: “The 1999 Environmental Law prohibits dumping toxic waste into the occupied Palestinian territories unless otherwise authorized.”
“This is a crime liable to be punished by life-imprisonment and hard labor . . . in addition to reimbursements to be shelled out in case any ecological damage occurs,” she added.
The EQA raised alarm bells over a premeditated Israeli scheme aimed at contaminating the Palestinian ecosystem, particularly in western Ramallah city.
The Environment Authority dubbed Israel’s exploitation of the area as a dumpsite “an illegal crime prohibited under the international law.”
An adverse change has hit Ramallah’s ecological system due to Israel’s misuse of such Palestinian villages as Shaqba, Rentis, and Ni’lin, as garbage dumps.
Head of the Environment Authority, Adala al-Atira, said during a stopover in Ramallah’s village of Shaqba: “The 1999 Environmental Law prohibits dumping toxic waste into the occupied Palestinian territories unless otherwise authorized.”
“This is a crime liable to be punished by life-imprisonment and hard labor . . . in addition to reimbursements to be shelled out in case any ecological damage occurs,” she added.
19 jan 2015
The Israel premier has decided to launch a media campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and its Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in an attempt to undermine the court's jurisdiction and authority in probing Israeli war crime, Haaretz reported Monday.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Haaretz noted, will wage a media campaign against the ICC and its Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, despite a specific recommendation by the Foreign Ministry not to refer to the prosecutor and court in negative terms and not to attack them directly.
The decision came in the wake of a meeting convened at Netanyahu’s office on Sunday, which included the war minister Ya’alon and other senior officials from the foreign and justice ministries.
“The whole purpose of this move is to deny Israel its right to defend itself and to tie its hands in its fight against terror,” a senior official was quoted by Haaretz as claiming.
The Israeli deputy director general of the foreign ministry and the legal adviser reportedly attempted to soothe the simmering tension stirred up during the deliberations, drawing Netanyahu’s attention to the repercussions of any antagonistic behavior toward the ICC and Bensouda.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Haaretz noted, will wage a media campaign against the ICC and its Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, despite a specific recommendation by the Foreign Ministry not to refer to the prosecutor and court in negative terms and not to attack them directly.
The decision came in the wake of a meeting convened at Netanyahu’s office on Sunday, which included the war minister Ya’alon and other senior officials from the foreign and justice ministries.
“The whole purpose of this move is to deny Israel its right to defend itself and to tie its hands in its fight against terror,” a senior official was quoted by Haaretz as claiming.
The Israeli deputy director general of the foreign ministry and the legal adviser reportedly attempted to soothe the simmering tension stirred up during the deliberations, drawing Netanyahu’s attention to the repercussions of any antagonistic behavior toward the ICC and Bensouda.
18 jan 2015
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday urged his Palestinian counterpart to renew peace talks instead of pursuing efforts at the International Criminal Court or United Nations.
"There is no other way than direct negotiations. Unilateral steps will not solve the conflict, but just give more power to the extremists," Rivlin said during a visit by a delegation of US senators headed by Republican John McCain.
"I call upon President (Mahmoud) Abbas: instead of going to The Hague or to the United Nations, come to Jerusalem. Come to talk directly to the Israeli government and people," Rivlin said.
Palestine applied earlier this month to become a party to the Hague-based ICC and recognized its jurisdiction to retroactively cover a period including the Gaza war.
The ICC announced Friday it was launching a "preliminary examination" into Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories, including last summer's war with Gaza militants.
The Palestinians last month also attempted to have a resolution passed at the UN Security Council on ending Israel's occupation, but it was rejected.
Both moves were strongly condemned by Israel and its key ally the United States.
The latest round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed nine months ago without any visible results.
The presidency in Israel is a largely ceremonial post, but past presidents have used the position to promote political messages.
Rivlin, who was a long-time member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, had in the past spoken against establishing a Palestinian state but since being sworn in as president in July 2014 largely restricted his public statements to internal Israeli issues.
"There is no other way than direct negotiations. Unilateral steps will not solve the conflict, but just give more power to the extremists," Rivlin said during a visit by a delegation of US senators headed by Republican John McCain.
"I call upon President (Mahmoud) Abbas: instead of going to The Hague or to the United Nations, come to Jerusalem. Come to talk directly to the Israeli government and people," Rivlin said.
Palestine applied earlier this month to become a party to the Hague-based ICC and recognized its jurisdiction to retroactively cover a period including the Gaza war.
The ICC announced Friday it was launching a "preliminary examination" into Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories, including last summer's war with Gaza militants.
The Palestinians last month also attempted to have a resolution passed at the UN Security Council on ending Israel's occupation, but it was rejected.
Both moves were strongly condemned by Israel and its key ally the United States.
The latest round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed nine months ago without any visible results.
The presidency in Israel is a largely ceremonial post, but past presidents have used the position to promote political messages.
Rivlin, who was a long-time member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, had in the past spoken against establishing a Palestinian state but since being sworn in as president in July 2014 largely restricted his public statements to internal Israeli issues.
The Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, has called on the United States to interfere to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from launching a probe into the situation in the Palestinian territories.
Netanyahu had called US Secretary of State John Kerry and asked him to interfere to prevent the court from launching the inquiry, Israeli TV Channel 2 said Saturday.
Earlier on Friday ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, announced that the court had opened a preliminary investigation into the "situation in Palestine" after the Palestinian government accused the Israeli occupation of committing war crimes against the Palestinian people.
Bensouda said that her examination would be conducted "in full independence and impartiality," a decision that has been slammed as "shameful" by the Israeli government.
"Israel rejects the absurd decision of the ICC prosecutor," Netanyahu was quoted by his office as saying on Saturday.
He said he would not be surprised if the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group, al-Qaeda, or the Lebanese movement Hezbollah followed suit.
"To what depth of absurdity has the tribunal sunk?" PM asks, claiming that a decision to probe possible war crimes in Palestinian territories runs contrary to reasons for which the tribunal was created.
The US Department of State on Friday expressed opposition to the decision of the ICC prosecutor.
Israeli war minister, Moshe Ya'alon, meanwhile, criticized the ICC decision, describing it on his Facebook page as a "hypocritical" one that condones terrorism instead of fighting it.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, hailed such a move by the ICC dubbing it a step in the right direction.
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri called on the court to carry out the necessary procedures and take legal action against the Israeli occupation war criminals.
Netanyahu had called US Secretary of State John Kerry and asked him to interfere to prevent the court from launching the inquiry, Israeli TV Channel 2 said Saturday.
Earlier on Friday ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, announced that the court had opened a preliminary investigation into the "situation in Palestine" after the Palestinian government accused the Israeli occupation of committing war crimes against the Palestinian people.
Bensouda said that her examination would be conducted "in full independence and impartiality," a decision that has been slammed as "shameful" by the Israeli government.
"Israel rejects the absurd decision of the ICC prosecutor," Netanyahu was quoted by his office as saying on Saturday.
He said he would not be surprised if the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group, al-Qaeda, or the Lebanese movement Hezbollah followed suit.
"To what depth of absurdity has the tribunal sunk?" PM asks, claiming that a decision to probe possible war crimes in Palestinian territories runs contrary to reasons for which the tribunal was created.
The US Department of State on Friday expressed opposition to the decision of the ICC prosecutor.
Israeli war minister, Moshe Ya'alon, meanwhile, criticized the ICC decision, describing it on his Facebook page as a "hypocritical" one that condones terrorism instead of fighting it.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, hailed such a move by the ICC dubbing it a step in the right direction.
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri called on the court to carry out the necessary procedures and take legal action against the Israeli occupation war criminals.
