Israeli diplomats are being instructed to lobby members of the US Congress to pressure South Africa into dropping its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Pretoria is calling on the world court to label Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide against Palestinians.
“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,” read a cable from Israel’s foreign ministry to its embassy and all consulates in the US.
According to Axios, the Israeli diplomats were also told to push for legislation against South Africa at the state and federal levels in the US, with the foreign ministry stating that “even if they won’t materialize, presenting them and talking about them will be important” in influencing the African nation’s policy.
I think this has important ramifactions for all non white Americans. The response to this will show, whether non white people are allowed to demand justice, or whether just asking a court to rule on a case, so the mere access the judicial system, is reserved to white people alone.
It does not matter if the face of an administration or party is black, asian, a woman or of whichever marginalized group. The fundamental question is:
Will people outside the white supremacy be allowed to seek justice from an independent court or not?