Harris speaks with Netanyahu amid ICC probe

Vice President Harris talked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone Thursday after the Biden administration condemned the International Criminal Court for “unfairly” targeting Israel in its new investigation. 

In the call, Harris praised Netanyahu for his peace talks with other countries in the Middle East and affirmed the U.S.’s commitment to ensure Israel’s security especially with regards to Iran and its nuclear program. 

“She expressed strong support for Israel’s recent groundbreaking normalization agreements with countries in the Arab and Muslim world, and stressed the importance of advancing peace, security, and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” the press release of the call states.

Harris and Netanyahu also discussed COVID-19 and how the two countries may work together to fight the pandemic that has taken hold of the world for a year now. 

“They discussed the importance of advancing scientific cooperation between our two countries and efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic,” says the press release. 

However, Netanyahu in a tweet later that day mentioned a “joint team” between the countries to fight the virus that was not discussed in the press release. 

שוחחתי עם סגנית נשיא ארה״ב קמלה האריס שבירכה על ההצלחה הגדולה של מבצע החיסונים בישראל. סיכמנו על הקמת צוות משותף להידוק שיתוף הפעולה במאבק בקורונה. סגנית הנשיא הביעה את ההתנגדות המוחלטת של הממשל האמריקני להחלטת התובעת של בית הדין הבינ״ל בהאג

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) March 4, 2021

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

The two also discussed their “opposition” to the International Criminal Court conducting an investigation into alleged war crimes against Israel in the Palestine-Israeli conflict. 

The Biden administration believes the ICC does not have jurisdiction over Israel and that the probe “unfairly” targets the country, according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price.