February 19, 2024 | The Wall Street Journal
The ICJ’s New Chief Judge Has a History of Bias Against Israel
Nawaf Salam has also been a candidate for Lebanese prime minister twice since joining the bench in 2018.
February 19, 2024 | The Wall Street Journal
The ICJ’s New Chief Judge Has a History of Bias Against Israel
Nawaf Salam has also been a candidate for Lebanese prime minister twice since joining the bench in 2018.
Excerpt
The proceedings at the International Court of Justice are even more of a travesty than Israel’s defenders realize. The court began hearings Monday on meritless claims that international law requires immediate and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and east Jerusalem, regardless of risk to Israel’s security. Presiding was the ICJ’s newly promoted chief judge, Nawaf Salam, who since joining the court in 2018 has twice been a candidate for prime minister of Lebanon.
Later this month Judge Salam will preside over next steps in the separate ICJ case generated by South Africa’s spurious allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Both ICJ cases threaten to undermine the ability of Israel, the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to defend themselves against terrorism.
Mr. Kittrie is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a law professor at Arizona State University.