The South African government has allocated R37 million to its genocide case against Israel, criticized by the SA Zionist Federation for misusing taxpayer funds amidst economic crises. The total funding for this legal action has reached R130 million. The ICJ previously indicated the claims were not substantiated, complicating the issue further as South Africa argues Israel violated the Genocide Convention.
The South African government has allocated 37 million South African Rands (approximately $2 million) towards its genocide case against Israel, as expressed in a statement from the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF). This recent funding contributes to a total of R130 million (over $7 million) designated for this legal endeavor. The Israel advocacy group has criticized this allocation, branding it a misuse of taxpayer resources.
The SAZF characterized the government’s financial commitment as “appalling” given the nation’s severe economic and social issues, such as an alarming unemployment rate of 35%—60% among youth—and significant infrastructure crises like a compromised healthcare system and widespread power outages. The federation emphasized that, amidst these pressing matters, such expenditures are unjustifiable.
Furthermore, the SAZF highlighted that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had previously issued a preliminary ruling indicating that South Africa’s claims against Israel regarding genocide had not been substantiated. The organization expressed concern that the South African government mischaracterized this ruling as a success to further its legal initiatives against Israel while disregarding the actions of Hamas, which they believe are the actual violators of human rights in the recent conflict.
The context of South Africa’s case against Israel began with legal action initiated in December 2023, accusing Israel of breaches of the Genocide Convention. The ICJ acknowledged the Palestinians’ potential claim for protection in January 2024 and the legitimacy of South Africa’s case, subsequently instituting provisional measures against Israel. In October 2024, South Africa formally submitted its Memorial to the ICJ, alleging violations of the Genocide Convention linked to actions resulting in the destruction of Palestinian lives in the Gaza Strip.
In summary, the South African government’s recent allocation of funds for its genocide case against Israel has been met with strong criticism from the SAZF, which cites severe domestic issues and perceives the funding as a misappropriation of taxpayer money. The matter unfolds in the context of ongoing legal proceedings at the ICJ, where South Africa argues violations of the Genocide Convention by Israel, amid indications that the court has not fully endorsed these claims. This situation underscores the complexity and repercussions of international legal actions on domestic priorities.
Original Source: www.jpost.com
