ICC announces visit to Israel, Palestinian territories

The aim of the visit is "to raise awareness" of the work of the International Criminal Court

THE HAGUE: A delegation from the world's only permanent war crimes court is visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories this week to "promote better understanding" about its work, the chief prosecutor said Wednesday.



The aim of the visit from Wednesday until October 10 is "to raise awareness" of the work of the International Criminal Court, and the delegation from her office "will not engage in evidence collection in relation to any alleged crimes," prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.



Earlier in June, Israel was elected to chair a UN committee for the first time in the world body’s 71-year history, triggering strong protests from Arab countries and the Palestinians.

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon won the chair of the legal affairs committee of the General Assembly by picking up 109 votes from the 193 member-states.