OAN’s Rayana Unutoa
11:15 AM – Tuesday, January 9, 2023
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his ongoing visit to the Middle East.
During a meeting in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Blinken spoke with Netanyahu and other top Israeli leaders about the nation’s strategy in its war with Hamas.
Blinken affirmed the United States’ support for Israel’s right to defend itself but urged the nation try to limit civilian casualties in Gaza.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog notably denounced an upcoming proceeding in the International Court of Justice in which South Africa is suing Israel for a ‘supposed genocide.’
“There’s nothing more atrocious and preposterous than this claim,” Herzog said. “Actually, our enemies, the Hamas in their charter called for the destruction and annihilation of the state of Israel. The only nation state of the Jewish people, the convention against genocide was, uh, enacted by the international community. Following the worst atrocities of humankind, that’s the Holocaust, which was aimed specifically against the Jews, the Jewish people in order to eliminate the Jewish race.”
Herzog called out South Africa for hypocrisy, adding that the Jewish State will proudly present their case of self-defense under international humanitarian law.
Blinken said that South Africa’s International Court of Justice case is “meritless” and “distracts the world” from what is going on.
“It’s particularly galling given that those who are attacking Israel – Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis – continue to openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews,” he said.
In the meantime, Blinken went on to stress the importance of pursuing sustainable peace in the region.
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