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Israel Rebuts Genocide Accusation at International Court of Justice
(Wall Street Journal) Jess Bravin - Israel denounced South Africa's claim that it is committing genocide against Palestinians, telling the International Court of Justice on Friday that it was outrageous to liken the Jewish state's military response to Hamas attacks launched from Gaza to Nazi Germany's systematic extermination of six million Jews during the Holocaust. Tal Becker, chief lawyer of Israel's Foreign Ministry, said South Africa's recitation of the destruction in Gaza ignored that Hamas provoked the war, continues to attack Israel, and locates its personnel and armaments in civilian facilities. "The absurd upshot of South Africa's argument is this: Under the guise of the allegation against Israel of genocide, this court is asked to call for an end to operations against the ongoing attacks of an organization that pursues an actual genocidal agenda," he said, citing Hamas' dedication to killing Jews and eliminating Israel. "Israel seeks neither to permanently occupy Gaza or to displace its civilian population. It wants to create a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike, where both can live in peace, thrive and prosper, and where the Palestinian people have all the power to govern themselves, but not the capacity to threaten Israel."