Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the latest United States sanctions imposed on officials from the International Criminal Court, describing them as a strong defense of Israel. The United States announced sanctions against four court figures, including judges and deputy prosecutors involved in authorizing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, as well as for investigating United States personnel in Afghanistan. Netanyahu praised the move as a decisive response to what he called a false campaign against Israel and its military. Both Israel and the United States maintain that the court lacks authority over Israel and do not recognize the Palestinian Authority's right to request legal action from the court.