Israeli diplomats are lobbying U.S. politicians to pressure South Africa into dropping ICJ genocide case

By arseniotoledo // 2024-09-16

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The Israeli government is reportedly urging its diplomats in the United States to lobby federal and state politicians to help pressure South Africa to drop its legal proceedings in the United Nations' International Court of Justice (ICJ) over whether or not its actions in Gaza constitute acts of genocide. A report from Axios indicated that on Monday, Sept. 9, Israel sent a classified diplomatic cable to the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. and all Israeli consulates in the U.S. regarding South Africa's ICJ case. The cable called on Israeli diplomats to lobby U.S. politicians to issue statements warning South Africa against continuing its genocide case against Israel before the ICJ. (Related: 13 Countries join South Africa's case against Israel on genocide in Gaza.) "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 toward 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," read the cable. This was reportedly sent by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to its embassy and all its nine consulates in the United States. The Israeli diplomats were also instructed to reach out to diplomats working for the South African embassy in Washington, D.C. and its three consulates in the U.S., and to threaten them by claiming that their country will "pay a heavy price" if it does not change its policy toward Israel.

Israel telling diplomats to directly lobby members of Congress

Furthermore, the Israeli diplomats were instructed to lobby members of Congress to issue statements threatening South Africa against continuing its genocide case against Israel with the ICJ by warning that it could lead to Washington suspending trade relations with South Africa. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also instructed its diplomats in the U.S. to lobby legislation against South Africa on the state and federal levels, noting that even if anti-South African legislation failed to pass, "presenting them and talking about them will be important" in trying to intimidate South Africa into backing down from its genocide case. Along with proposing legislation, Israeli diplomats were also instructed to lobby politicians into holding hearings regarding South Africa's policy toward Israel. Meanwhile, Axios political reporter and Middle East expert Barak Ravid noted that the U.S. is unlikely to sever or even weaken trade relations with South Africa due to Washington's desire to maintain good relations with Pretoria to counter the growing influence of Russia and China on the nation. South Africa's genocide case against Israel – which is being supported by several countries including Turkey and Mexico – has yet to be concluded. The court has set a deadline of Oct. 28 for South Africa to submit its written arguments and July 28, 2025, for Israel to respond with its own. It is unlikely the ICJ will decide on the accusations of genocide until then. Watch this video explaining how the ICJ ruled that Israel's settlements in the West Bank are illegal, they must be evacuated immediately and Palestinians must be paid reparations. This video is from the AllTheWorldsAStage channel on Brighteon.com.

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Israel telling diplomats to directly lobby members of Congress

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