{"id":31311,"date":"2024-01-25T12:44:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T20:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=31311"},"modified":"2024-01-25T12:44:59","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T20:44:59","slug":"backed-by-aipac-62-dems-join-gop-in-condemning-genocide-case-against-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/01\/25\/backed-by-aipac-62-dems-join-gop-in-condemning-genocide-case-against-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"Backed by AIPAC, 62 Dems Join GOP in Condemning Genocide Case Against Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Rep.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on January 18, 2024 in Washington, D.C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Photo: Kent Nishimura\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AIPAC is the top campaign contributor to Reps. Chris Smith and Kathy Manning, the leaders of a new letter denouncing South Africa’s International Court of Justice case.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

JAKE JOHNSON<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jan 24, 2024 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 60 House Democrats joined 148 Republicans on Tuesday in condemning South Africa’s genocide case against the Israeli government, which has continued to commit atrocities<\/a> in Gaza in the two weeks since the International Court of Justice heard arguments in the closely watched proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter<\/a> to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) called South Africa’s case “grossly unfounded”\u2014echoing the Biden administration’s position<\/a>\u2014and expressed “disgust” at the ICJ filing, which has garnered support from a number of countries around the world including Brazil, Bolivia, Malaysia, and Jordan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brief letter does not attempt to refute the exhaustive evidence<\/a> that South African attorneys laid out during public ICJ hearings earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith’s office noted<\/a> in a statement that the letter was backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a lobbying group that has enthusiastically supported<\/a> Israel’s assault on Gaza and smeared<\/a> lawmakers pushing for a cease-fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AIPAC is Smith<\/a> and Manning’s<\/a> top campaign contributor this election cycle, according to<\/a> OpenSecrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“South Africa’s accusation of genocide against Israel exposes how far Israel’s enemies will go in their attempts to demonize the Jewish state,” the lawmakers wrote, falsely accusing South Africa of “barely acknowledging the Hamas terrorists who gleefully massacred, mutilated, raped, and kidnapped innocent civilians on October 7.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its 84-page ICJ filing<\/a>, South Africa said it “unequivocally condemns all violations of international law by all parties, including the direct targeting of Israeli civilians and other nationals and hostage-taking by Hamas and other Palestinian armed group”\u2014a message South Africa’s representatives repeated<\/a> before the United Nations court earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Intercept<\/em>‘s Prem Thakker posted a full list of the letter’s signatories, which include Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a U.S. Senate candidate; Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.); Jared Golden (D-Maine); and Jodey Arrington (R-Texas).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the 148 Republicans & 62 Democrats who today expressed their "disgust" at South Africa\u2019s suit accusing Israel of genocide.

They also praised WH spokesperson John Kirby calling the case "meritless, counterproductive, and completely without basis in fact whatsoever." https:\/\/t.co\/aAmBzMRrK6<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/AaWbX4D0iL<\/a><\/p>— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) January 23, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>