The United States and France both took exception to the boisterous rally in Jerusalem on Jan. 28, of thousands of Israeli radicals bent on driving Palestinians out of Gaza, but it was the French who employed the new diplomatic weapon, the International Court of Justice orders to Israel on genocidal matters. While Israel’s Prime Minister had refrained from a direct endorsement of the displacement of Palestinians, the very open display of 11 of his Cabinet ministers at the rally, along with 15 of his coalition’s legislators, raised more than a few eyebrows.
The White House simply had a National Security Council spokesperson announce that the U.S. is “troubled” by the display in Jerusalem: “We have also been clear, consistent, and unequivocal against the forced relocation of Palestinians outside of Gaza. This rhetoric is incendiary and irresponsible, and we take the prime minister at his word when he says that Israel does not intend to reoccupy Gaza.” As such, the White House can hope that their partner Netanyahu stays within bounds.
