Israel Asks US Congress to Pressure South Africa to Withdraw ICJ Genocide Case

According to Russian Sputnik, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has urged members of the US Congress to pressure South Africa to drop its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The case accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention due to its months-long military operation in the Gaza Strip, Axios reports.

author: Economician

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category:politic

"We are asking you to immediately work with lawmakers at the federal and state levels, with governors, and with Jewish organizations, to pressure South Africa to change its policy towards Israel," the Israeli statement reads.

Israeli diplomats were instructed to inform South African diplomats currently working in the US that "continuing their current actions, such as supporting Hamas and pushing anti-Israeli moves in international courts, will come with a heavy price" and could potentially lead to a suspension of trade relations between Washington and Pretoria.

However, the US is unlikely to take such a drastic measure, as Washington aims to "maintain its relationship with South Africa to counter the influence of Russia and China."

South Africa initiated its genocide legal proceedings against Israel in December 2023, and since then, a total of 13 countries, including Spain, Belgium, Egypt, and Turkey, have joined the case. Israel has rejected the accusations.