SA ‘likely’ to lose some friends over Israel genocide case
While South Africa has been lauded in some quarters for its decision to challenge Israel in the International Court of Justice, it will likely lose some friends in the West.
These are the views of Professor Anthony Van Nieuwkerk from the Wits School of Governance amid concerns over the diplomatic ramifications of the case against Israel.
South Africa launched a case at the ICJ against Israel in December for what it said were genocidal acts in Gaza, with Israel rejecting the case “with disgust”.
The case will be heard on Thursday and Friday.
"There is a very powerful Jewish lobby in capitals of the western world saying, 'work with us, support us, we are suffering Hamas attacked us, we didn't attack them, this is not fair'. Those countries in the global north are lining up with Israel and against South Africa, and so what could possibly happen is that South Africa can lose some of its supporters and allies in the West and pick up support from the East and the South.
"Is this a good or a bad thing? If you can put on your trade or economics cap, then some of the countries that we do business, we might lose them, and that will impact our economy."
In an 84-page submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa urged judges to order Israel to "immediately suspend its military operations" in Gaza.
South Africa alleges that Israel "has engaged in, is engaging in, and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza".
Israel has angrily hit back at the accusations, with government spokesman Eylon Levy vowing to fight the South African case he described as "absurd blood libel".
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