Netanyahu Weighs International Criminal Court Prosecutors' Request for Israel, West Bank Visit

"Israel is weighing the possibility of permitting representatives of the prosecution of the International Criminal Court to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the coming weeks, senior officials in Jerusalem told Haaretz.

The visit would be in the context of a preliminary inquiry into Palestinian complaints against Israel's 2014 Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, and settlement construction in the West Bank, according to the officials, who requested anonymity due to the issue's sensitivity.

The aim of the visit by representatives of ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's office would be to engage in a dialogue about the prosecution's work, Israel's legal system and the preliminary inquiry process, the officials said...

Israel views the proposed visit as an explanatory trip by the delegation to build confidence with Israel, ahead of a future visit to look into the Palestinians' complaints.

Another possible reason for the visit could be the prosecutor's wish to relieve Palestinian pressure on her office and show that their complaints are being dealt with.

But the officials in Jerusalem said that even if the visit is approved, it will have no significance regarding the process of the preliminary inquiry..."