Friday, March 29th 2024   |

International

ICJ ruling explained, reactions listed

The International Court of Justice, the United Natiions highest court,  issued a ruling today on South Africa’s case against Israel.

Regarding the crime of “genocide,” the nine-member panel ruled that South Africa, had jurisdiction because, like Israel, it had signed the Genocide Convention, even though it was not a party in the dispute. The court did not issue a ruling on whether or not Israel was guilty of the crime...

International Court of Justice rules that some allegations of Israel committing genocide are ‘plausible’

By RON KAMPEAS

(JTA) — The International Court of Justice ruled that South Africa’s claims that Palestinians are at risk of genocide, and that they merit protection, are “plausible.”

But the court stopped short of ordering a stop to the fighting.

“In the court’s view, the aforementioned facts and circumstances are sufficient to conclude that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa and for which it is...

CyberWell group warns of spread of antisemitism, Holocaust denial on social media

TEL AVIV –CyberWell, an innovative tech nonprofit focused on monitoring for and combatting the spread of antisemitism on social media said that a recent analysis of 910 potentially antisemitic posts to Facebook, Instagram YouTube and X reviewed in the last month alone included 313 that denied or distorted the Hamas attack on October 7. This content reached nearly 26 million viewers on all platforms.

Of the...

Ben & Jerry’s board calls for ceasefire in Gaza

By JACKIE HAJDENBERG

(JTA) — The board of Ben & Jerry’s is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, board chair Anuradha Mittal said Tuesday in a statement.

“Peace is a core value of Ben & Jerry’s,” Mittal said in a statement to the Financial Times on Tuesday. “From Iraq to Ukraine [Ben & Jerry’s] has consistently stood up for these principles. Today is no different as we call for peace...

US, British jets hit Houthi targets, drawing them toward a combat role in Israel’s war

By RON KAMPEAS

WASHINGTON (JTA) — U.S. and British combat aircraft struck targets belonging to Yemen’s Houthi militia on Thursday, marking a rare and risky instance of U.S. and Western involvement in a conflict between Israel and an Arab adversary.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, had been targeting Western sea vessels in the Red Sea, ostensibly to pressure Israel to cease fire in its war against Hamas in the Gaza...

South Africa lays out its case as Israel is put on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice

By RON KAMPEAS

(JTA) — The first day of Israel’s trial for genocide opened at the International Court of Justice on Thursday, with lawyers from South Africa beginning to make their case that Israel is guilty of the crime against humanity in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Israel has chosen to contest the claim in the courtroom in the Hague, and will make its case on Friday. Rejecting the...

On eve of ICJ genocide hearing, Netanyahu says Israel has ‘no intention’ of displacing Palestinians in Gaza

By RON KAMPEAS

(JTA) — Under pressure from the Biden administration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel has “no intention” of removing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

“I want to make a few points absolutely clear: Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population,” Netanyahu said in English in a minute-long video he posted Wednesday to social media. “Israel is fighting Hamas...

Gabriel Attal, France’s new prime minister, says his Jewish ancestry has shaped him

By RON KAMPEAS

(JTA) — France’s newest prime minister is getting attention for the two firsts he brings to the job: Gabriel Attal, at 34, is the country’s youngest ever prime minister, and its first to be openly gay.

He says another facet of his identity also shapes him: His late father’s Jewishness.

Attal’s mother raised him and his siblings in her Russian Orthodox Christian faith. But his father, the...

How the watermelon wound up on Jennifer Garner’s daughter’s sweatshirt as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism

By RON KAMPEAS

(JTA) — When the social media watchdog group StopAntisemitism this week posted a photo of Jennifer Garner’s daughter, it called attention to her sweater, which showed a watermelon cut into the shape of a map.

The group took offense at the map — meant to display the shape of Palestine — saying that it “erases the entire country of Israel,” envisioning a Palestinian state in the territory...

Hezbollah leader promises retaliation against Israel for killing of Hamas chief in Beirut

By RON KAMPEAS

(JTA) — Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for the assassination of a senior Hamas leader who was under Hezbollah protection in Beirut and said the Lebanese terror group would retaliate.

“This serious crime will not remain without response and punishment,” the Hezbollah leader said Wednesday in a televised address a day after Saleh Al-Arouri, Hamas’ deputy leader, was assassinated.

Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the blast,...