IDF Lawyer Says ICC Probe Not a Concern

The Israeli military’s chief legal adviser said on Thursday that he is not concerned about a possible investigation by the International Criminal Court into Israel’s conduct during last year’s Gaza war.

Israel’s own internal probes are sufficient, said advocate general Maj. Gen. Danny Efroni.

The Palestinians recently joined the Netherlands-based court and have threatened to press war crimes charges against Israel there. But, according to the court’s founding statute, any robust internal investigation could prevent an outside one by the court.

“I am not concerned because I think I am doing my job,” Efroni told journalists on the sidelines of a conference about the laws of armed conflict. He said the quality and professionalism of the investigations being carried out were “sufficient enough” to stave off a probe by the international court.

Efroni has opened 15 criminal investigations into separate incidents from the 50-day war. Two probes have been closed because Palestinians who had lodged complaints did not want to testify. The military declined to say which cases were closed.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the February 20th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.