Israel lobbying to press South Africa to drop ICJ genocide case

Israeli diplomats have been directed to engage with members of the US Congress to encourage them to exert pressure on South Africa to withdraw its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Pretoria is seeking a declaration from the court that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide against the Palestinian people.

A diplomatic cable from Israel’s foreign ministry to its embassy in Washington and its consulates across the US outlines these directives.

This cable, which was first reported by Axios, urges Israeli diplomats to persuade US lawmakers to issue statements indicating that South Africa’s ICJ case could jeopardize US-South Africa trade relations, although this outcome seems unlikely.

The cable states, “We are asking you to immediately work with lawmakers on the federal and state level, with governors and Jewish organizations to put pressure on South Africa to change its policy towards Israel and to make clear that continuing their current actions like supporting Hamas and pushing anti-Israeli moves in international courts will come with a heavy price.”

Additionally, Israeli diplomats have been instructed to communicate with South African diplomats in the US, warning them that their country will “pay a heavy price” if it does not alter its stance towards Israel.

On December 29, 2023, South Africa initiated a significant legal confrontation with Israel by filing its petition at the ICJ. This action followed nearly three months after Israel commenced its military operations in Gaza in response to Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli actions have led to the deaths of at least 40,988 Palestinians in Gaza, while a report from the Lancet medical journal suggests the death toll could be as high as 186,000.

The ICJ petition requests an investigation into whether Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in light of its military offensive in Gaza.