Palestine will become an official member of the International Criminal Court on April
1st, seeking justice from last summer′s 50-day violence in Gaza.
Our Hwang Sung-hee sat down with the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki for an exclusive
interview on what the ICC membership means to Palestine. "We are seeking partial, proportional
kind of justice. Yes, we have suffered a lot since the Israeli occupation that started
in 1967. And if justice and investigation by the ICC will also include what Palestinians
have done in the latest Israeli aggression, well, we are ready to receive that investigation
and also to respond to that investigation. We have nothing really hide and we are seeking
justice even if that means we have to pay certain price."
But the United States said it will cut off aid to Palestine if it joins the ICC. Aren′t
you worried? "We are worried, absolutely. We are worried
because we receive almost 450 million dollars a year in terms of aid from the United States
to Palestinian economy and infrastructure. But unfortunately, the United States′ opposition
to our accession is due to the fact that the United States believes that such accession
might really undermine the image of the state of Israel. If Israel didn′t do anything
in violation of international law and if Israel believes that they didn′t commit any crimes
against the Palestinian people, why Israel or the United States of America are afraid
from us being member of the International Criminal Court."
At this point, is Palestine willing to talk things out with Israel?
"We have tried through U.S. intermediary to be able to find a solution to the conflict
through nine months negotiations which has really failed due to the intransience of the
Israeli side. The question is, is Israel ready to re-engage again and I will tell you that
Israel is not ready. And we have to wait until after elections to see if there is any partner
on the Israeli side who is willing really to engage in serious negotiations that will
put an end to Israeli occupation of Palistinian territories and will allow an establishment
of an independent Palestinian state that will live side by side with the state of Israel."
Has the unity government with Hamas come to an end?
"No, it didn′t come to an end yet. Yes, I admit we have so many obstacles. Yes, I
admit Hamas is not collaborating enough in order really to see that the government takes
full responsibilty in Gaza. For that purpose, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is
going to dispatch this week a high level delegation of the PLO to Gaza to enter into discussions
with Hamas in order for the Palestinian government to be able to work fully and responsibly in
Gaza and to provide the type of services that is needed by the Palestinian people in Gaza."
Is the Palestinian Authority standing behind reports ISIS is operating inside the Gaza
Strip? "Well, you know, I wonder. Is that really
true? I don′t t