Israel is trying to keep secret its lobbying against a legal case aimed at halting the Gaza genocide.
Through a freedom of information request, I have established that Benjamin Netanyahu contacted Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, over the proceedings initiated last year by South Africa.
Israel’s embassy in Brussels has objected to the disclosure of the letter from the prime minister. To their shame, officials working for von der Leyen have accepted Israel’s demand.
Why is the European Commission giving Israel a veto over what documents may be released into the public domain? What is von der Leyen and her entourage trying to hide?
The complaint filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice proved that Netanyahu and his colleagues had displayed a clear genocidal intent as they declared war on Gaza in October 2023. In its initial January 2024 ruling, the court deemed the case as plausible and ordered a halt to Israel’s attack.
The United Nations Genocide Convention places an onus on governments around the world to prevent and punish that crime. …..more
