Press releases
AJC Statement on the Provisional Measures Order by the International Court of Justice
January 26, 2024 — New York, NY
South Africa’s outrageous case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was dealt a major blow today, as the Court plainly rejected South Africa’s request for Israel to be ordered to cease its defensive military operation against Hamas in Gaza.
“It is a travesty that the ICJ did not throw out South Africa’s baseless genocide charges against Israel entirely and prevent this unnecessary and libelous spectacle from dragging on for years to come,” said Ted Deutch, CEO of American Jewish Committee (AJC). “Nevertheless, the Court’s order today thwarted South Africa’s primary objective in launching this case: to turn the Genocide Convention on its head and use it as an ‘aggressor’s charter’ to prevent Israel from defending its citizens against Hamas’ brutality and continued terror.”
In its decision today, the ICJ ordered Israel to carry out acts that its representatives had affirmed at the January 12 hearing that they are already doing and intend to continue. The Court further rejected South Africa’s request for Israel to be ordered to “desist” from committing specific acts that South Africa alleged would be indicative of genocide in Gaza. The Court repeatedly stressed that it had not determined that any violations of the Genocide Convention had occurred. The Court also indirectly acknowledged the disparity in the proceedings, which address only Israel and not Hamas, noting all parties’ obligations under international humanitarian law and calling for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all hostages abducted by Hamas and other armed groups on October 7.
“As we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, amidst unprecedented levels of antisemitism worldwide, leaders must recognize that South Africa’s outrageous attempt to distort popular understanding of the meaning of the term ‘genocide’ and use it as a weapon against Israel is not only deeply insulting to Jews; it fuels hatred of Jews everywhere and greatly increases the danger that many already face,” added Deutch. “We must not let outrageous accusations against Israel distract from the reality that Israel has every right to defend itself against Hamas’ brutality and free the 136 hostages who have been held in captivity for 112 days in the most horrendous conditions.”
Israeli officials have repeatedly emphasized, to the Court and elsewhere, their commitment to abiding by Israeli and international law, even though Hamas relentlessly violates international law; to facilitate increasing quantities of humanitarian assistance and access to health care in Gaza; and to enforce Israel’s laws prohibiting any hate speech calling for civilians to be harmed.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org
TAI Director Daniel Schwammenthal on Iran's Attack Against Israel
On April 16, TAI Director Daniel Schwammenthal joined TVP World to discus Iran's unjustified attack against Israel and the Jewish state's possible response. He highlighted that the Islamic Republic has been trying to destroy Israel for over 40 years and that Iran's proxy Hezbollah began...
Celebration of 75 Years of Israeli-Italian Relations in the Italian Senate
On February 28, the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI)-Italy Chapter, an AJC project of cross-party, interparliamentarian lawmakers, and the Israeli embassy in Rome organized a panel discussion in the Italian Senate celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Rome and Jerusalem....
AJC Welcomes European Parliament Resolution Conditioning a Gaza Ceasefire on Hamas Dismantlement, Release of all Hostages
On January 18, the European Parliament adopted its second resolution on the Israel-Hamas war. The text conditioned a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on the dismantling of Hamas and the release of all remaining hostages. AJC argues that the resolution, which was adopted on the 1st birthday of Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage, was an important victory for those who truly want to promote a two-state solution.
Exhibition: Israel in the Aftermath of the Hamas Attacks with Photos by Ziv Koren
On December 6, AJC Transatlantic Institute together with the Israeli Mission to the EU and the Representation of Bavaria to the EU exhibited the pictures of Israeli photojournalist Ziv Koren showing Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre. Without being graphic, the stunning images...
AJC welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution backing Israel’s right to self-defense and calling for the elimination of Hamas
Brussels – 19 October 2023 – The AJC Transatlantic Institute welcomes today’s European Parliament resolution backing Israel’s right to self-defense and calling...
AJC’s Transatlantic Friends of Israel Opens Italian Chapter to Strengthen Links Between Italy, Europe, U.S., Canada and the Jewish State
Rome – May 31, 2023 — The Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI)—the interparliamentary, cross-party network spearheaded by the American Jewish Committee (AJC)—launched its Italian...
Statement From TFI Italy on Recent Events in Israel
Rome – 17 Aprile 2023 – Il Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) Italy condanna fermamente l’ondata di estrema violenza che ha colpito Israele in questi ultimi giorni, i ripetuti efferati attacchi terroristici che...
AJC, Other Jewish Organizations Welcome Suspension of Israeli Judicial Overhaul Legislation
In a joint statement with other American Jewish organizations, AJC welcomed the Israeli government’s suspension of legislative consideration of judicial reform measures, and encouraged “all Knesset factions, coalition and opposition alike, to use this time to build a consensus that includes the broad support of Israeli civil society.”
AJC CEO Ted Deutch at the UN on the Institution’s Role to Combat Antisemitism
Speaking at a high-level UN side event focused on globalizing efforts to combat antisemitism alongside Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president, AJC CEO Ted Deutch called on UN leaders to do more to counter antisemitism at the world body. The program was co-hosted by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and the missions of Argentina, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, and the United Kingdom.
When Will The Far Left Stop Instrumentalizing The Palestinian Cause?
Jailed for plotting the murder of the former chief Sephardic rabbi of Israel and for his connections with the EU-listed terrorist organization PFLP, Salah Hamouri, often misrepresented as a “human rights activist,” was warmly welcomed by several far left lawmakers in France last December. In Le Figaro, AJC’s Simone Rodan-Benzaquen calls them out for embracing Palestinian terrorists and stresses their serious responsibility to refrain from glorifying terrorism as elected officials.