The Jewish academic Norman Finkelstein has shared some interesting insights about the case against Israel. The lawsuit is 84 pages long and claims that Israel did not provide basic necessities like food, water, medicine, fuel, and shelter to the people living in Gaza.
The Three Influential Elements
Finkelstein explained that there are three important things that will influence the judges when they make their decision about this case.
- Legal Facts
The first element is all about the legal facts presented by both parties in the trial. The judges will carefully consider the evidence and arguments brought forward by South Africa and Israel.
- Political Pressures
The second element involves the political pressures that each judge might face from their own country. Sometimes, governments can put pressure on judges to sway their decisions. This can make things complicated.
- Judge's Credibility and Public Perception
The third element is about the judge's credibility and the credibility of the court itself. If a judge makes a ruling that goes against what most people believe, it can affect how people see the judge and the court. So, they have to be careful!
Possible Lobbying and Israel's Image
Finkelstein also mentioned that there might be pressure from Jewish lobbies to prevent a ruling against Israel. However, he believes this pressure would be directed towards the judges by their own governments, rather than directly influencing the court's decision.
Now, you might be wondering if Israel's image would be damaged if the court ruled against them. Well, according to Finkelstein, Israel's image has already been harmed due to the actions they took in Gaza. Even if no ruling is made against them, the fact that the case is being considered by the court has already had an impact.
Impact on US President and Secretary of State
If the International Court of Justice does rule against Israel, Finkelstein thinks it would make the US President, Joe Biden, and his Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, feel a bit uncomfortable. It's because the ruling would go against what the US government supports.
