Netanyahu applauds US sanctions on ICC judges

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday welcomed the United States’ decision to impose additional sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing it as a “decisive move against the smear campaign” targeting 'Israel'.

Read more: U.S. sanctions ICC judges over ‘Israel’ case

In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu said, “I congratulate Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, for his decision to impose sanctions on the judges of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. This is a decisive act against the smear campaign targeting the State of Israel … for the sake of truth and justice.”

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on four more ICC judges or prosecutors including from allies France and Canada, in a new effort to hobble the tribunal including over actions against ‘Israel’.

"The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.