From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
210 US lawmakers blast South Africa’s ‘defamatory’ genocide charge against Israel
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
WASHINGTON — Two hundred and ten Congress members have signed a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken blasting South Africa’s case in the International Court of Justice in which it accuses Israel of perpetrating a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“South Africa makes grossly unfounded and defamatory charges against Israel on the world stage, abusing the judicial process in order to delegitimize the democratic State of Israel,” the lawmakers write in the letter organized by Democratic Representative Kathy Manning and Republican Representative Chris Smith.
“We vigorously denounce South Africa’s deeply hostile stance toward Israel and thoroughly reject its charge of genocide.”
“We urge you to continue to do the same, to offer Israel all appropriate support in opposing the South African application to the ICJ, and to encourage our allies to join us in speaking out against this unfounded attack on Israel, particularly at the United Nations and in other intergovernmental organizations,” the letter adds.
