Senior Official: Australia Will Press ICC to Avoid Attacks Against Israel

"Australia is willing to be an 'important player' in keeping pressure on the International Criminal Court so it is not used as a vehicle to attack Israel, a senior diplomatic official said Sunday, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Bishop, according to the official, committed Australia to continue defending Israel in hostile international forums, as it has done until now.

The official said Netanyahu is trying to put together a group of nations that – in addition to the United States under President Donald Trump – would both take a more aggressive tone against Iran and also block efforts to castigate Israel in various international forums.

Netanyahu met Bishop shortly before leaving Australia after a five-day visit. In that meeting, he raised the issue of Gaza to illustrate how unrealistic it is at this time to talk about a Palestinian state..."