Republican Sen. Jim Risch, the top Senate Foreign Relations Committee member, is threatening to block all action on nominees and legislation in the committee until progress is made on passing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move comes after recent indictments by the ICC of top leaders of both Israel and Hamas, drawing bipartisan criticism. Risch’s frustration stems from the lack of progress in reaching a deal on ICC legislation, despite a similar bill passing the House with bipartisan support.
The bipartisan committee, known for cooperation, is facing a deadlock as Risch’s threats to halt action unless ICC sanctions are passed loom large. While discussions were initially held to work on ICC legislation, the motivation seems to have dwindled over the past few weeks, leading to the current stalemate. Despite offers by Risch and his colleagues to negotiate, Democrats’ lack of substantive response is hindering progress on the issue.
Republicans believe that the quickest way to pass a sanctions bill would be for the Senate to consider the House-passed legislation. With limited legislative days before the August recess, time is of the essence in reaching a resolution on the ICC sanctions issue. However, Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, the Foreign Relations Committee chair, views the House measure as a divisive partisan bill and is striving to find common ground with Republicans on bipartisan sanctions legislation.
While Risch is pushing for swift action on ICC sanctions, Cardin is working to bridge the gap between Democrats and Republicans on the issue. As talks continue between the two sides, Cardin met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to discuss potential paths forward. Despite the challenges posed by political maneuvering, Cardin remains optimistic about finding a bipartisan solution that garners support from President Joe Biden. The aim is to ensure a united front in defending Israel from what is perceived as a flawed and biased prosecution by the ICC.
In the midst of the standoff, Risch and Cardin maintain a positive working relationship and are committed to finding a bipartisan way forward. Risch expressed his hope for ICC legislation to be addressed at the next committee meeting, indicating his determination to push the issue forward. As discussions continue and developments unfold, the focus remains on finding a resolution that balances bipartisan cooperation with the urgency of addressing the ICC sanctions matter.
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