Israel, U.S. Sign Agreement To Bypass
International Criminal Court

(August 4, 2002)

Israel and the United States signed an agreement August 4, 2002, shielding the citizens of the two states from being extradited to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. According to the agreement, neither country will extradite the other's citizens to their home countries or to a third party to stand trial.

This was the first of a series of agreements sought by the United States to keep Americans out of the reach of the International Criminal Court. The tribunal, which is expected to start functioning in The Hague, Netherlands, early next year, was set up to try individuals for atrocities, genocide, war crimes and systematic human rights abuses. The U.S. strongly opposes the ICC and fears that hostile nations may abuse the court to bring politically motivated cases against Americans.