The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said that the over 200 members of Congress who sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken denouncing South Africa, dismissing the nation as “Israel’s enemy,” and expressing their “disgust” at the well-substantiated genocide filing made against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), should be “ashamed.”
With the support of the anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee, more than 200 members of congress attacked South Africa’s character and intent for accusing Israel of genocide, going so far as to say to the Biden administration:
- “We write to you to express our disgust at this filing”
- “South Africa’s accusation of genocide against Israel exposes how far Israel’s enemies will go in their attempts to demonize the Jewish state.”
- “We vigorously denounce South Africa’s deeply hostile stance towards Israel and thoroughly reject its charge of genocide.”
On January 11, the South African government presented its case under the Genocide Convention, alleging Israel’s intent to “destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial, and ethnical group.” South Africa has urged the ICJ to order Israel to suspend military operations in Gaza. The (ICJ) said yesterday will announce on Friday whether it will order emergency measures against Israel.
Earlier in the month, a leaked cable from the Israeli Foreign Ministry revealed instructions to its embassies, urging them to influence diplomats and politicians in their respective host countries to release statements opposing South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice.
In a statement, CAIR’s Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw said:
“It is utterly shameful that these members of Congress would dishonestly attack South Africa, a nation that has firsthand experience overcoming systematic occupation, discrimination, apartheid, and government-sanctioned violence. South Africa has filed a thorough, well-argued complaint with the International Court of Justice, and anyone claiming otherwise has clearly not read their complaint.
“These members of Congress and the Biden administration must reckon with the fact that their ongoing support for the Netanyahu government’s genocidal war on the people of Gaza makes them complicit in these crimes. Instead of attacking South Africa for trying to stop this violence, these members of Congress should call for a ceasefire and the pursuit of a just, lasting peace.”
McCaw noted CAIR calls on members of Congress to reconsider their response, speak directly with the government of South Africa, and to adopt a more assertive position in addressing the serious genocide claims raised by South Africa. CAIR also urges the Biden Administration to closely examine the situation and to support a ceasefire solution to the conflict that upholds international law.
In the midst of the ongoing conflict, funded with U.S. taxpayer dollars and enjoying overwhelming congressional and White House support, Israel’s indiscriminate bombings and shootings have killed 25,000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and injured tens of thousands more.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com