SA won’t withdraw Israel genocide case to please US - Lamola
While the Donald Trump administration argues its hostility towards Pretoria stems from land grabs targeting Afrikaners, some believe it could be linked to the country’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola during debate in the National Assembly on 10 February 2025 on the deaths of 14 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Picture: Phando Jikelo/PARLIAMENT
JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) member and Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola says South Africa will not withdraw its case against Israel to get in the good books of the United States (US).
While the Donald Trump administration argues its hostility towards Pretoria stems from land grabs targeting Afrikaners, some believe it could be linked to the country’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Pretoria's tensions with Washington were a central topic at the ANC's NEC in Boksburg at the weekend.
Lamola said that although South Africa wants to fix its rocky diplomatic relationship with the US, the ICJ case is a no-go zone.
“This is a matter that we will not withdraw from the court, which we have already put. This is a matter that we will not compromise on.”
Lamola emphasised that South Africa launched its case against Israel at the ICJ for a reason and will not dance to the tune of the Trump administration in this regard.
“There are issues of progressive internationalism, which we cannot compromise on, which include the issue of the ICJ. This is an issue of international law, which has to be respected by everyone.”
Meanwhile, the ANC said the president is still waiting for the right time to send his delegation to engage the US.