In the shadow of the UN
's decision to give the green light to the International Court of Justice in The Hague to investigate the "occupation of the territories", this evening (Saturday) the incoming Prime Minister issued a statement strongly condemning the move.
", said Likud chairman MK Binyamin Netanyahu, "even the despicable decision made today will not bind the Israeli government."
"The Jewish people are not conquering in their own land and they are not conquering in our eternal capital Jerusalem," Netanyahu added.
The new foreign minister, Eli Cohen, said that "this is an anti-Israel decision that gives support to the terrorist organizations and the anti-Semitic BDS movement and works against the principles agreed upon by the UN itself.
Instead of acting for the benefit of the Palestinian population and fighting terrorism, the Palestinian leadership promotes futile efforts to harm Israel."
Cohen also said that "this decision will not change the situation on the ground and will not prevent us from continuing to fight terrorism, protect the citizens of Israel and advance the interests of the State of Israel."
In the meantime, the vote at the UN is developing into a first political and political test for the new government, and this against the background of calls from government officials to examine reaction measures against the Palestinian Authority that initiated the decision.
Those around Prime Minister Netanyahu say that at this stage no practical moves against the PA are being considered. It should be noted that in the coalition agreements between the Likud and religious Zionism, it is stated that "if the PA advances measures against Israel in The Hague, the government will formulate policies and measures against the PA, and against its actions ". The list of measures included in the agreement are, among other things, the withholding of salaries for terrorists and their families, a re-examination of the employment in Israel of teachers trained by the Palestinian Authority, as well as an examination of ways to deal with the Palestinian law, which prohibits the Palestinians from selling land to Jews.
The UN General Assembly decided on Saturday night to turn to the International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ), requesting an opinion on whether Israel's position in the territories of Judea and Samaria is one of "permanent annexation". The decision was initiated by the Palestinian Authority, despite requests from the American administration and the outgoing Minister of Defense , Benny Gantz, Mabu Mazen, to avoid it. 87 countries voted in favor of the decision. 24 opposed and 53 abstained. 26 countries were absent from the vote, among other things due to the celebrations for the opening of the year 2023.
Despite the loss in the political system, they draw encouragement from the fact that, despite the automatic majority against Israel in the UN, the majority of countries in the world did not vote in favor of the Palestinian decision. In addition, Israel is satisfied that the majority of Western democracies and the majority of European countries voted against, as well as the fact that the number of countries that supported it decreased by 11, in relation for the preliminary vote that was held at the UN a month ago.
A political official told "Israel Hayom" that the improvement in the voting data resulted from an increased effort by the entire government system.
"Both Lapid and Netanyahu, both President Herzog and many other officials turned to their counterparts in the various countries and asked them to oppose the decision. In addition, the United States and central European countries worked together with us to convince other countries not to support."
"The fact that many Western countries have acted this way will help us in the future because it means that they see the decision as an unconstructive step," said the political official.
The official asked to calm the spirits.
"The decision must be taken in proportion. Israel has faced decisions of this type in the past and will know how to do it this time as well."
It should be noted that in the day that passed between his assumption of the position of Prime Minister and the adoption of the decision at the United Nations, Netanyahu spoke with a number of world leaders asking them not to support the resolution. Among other things, he spoke on Friday with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite the anger, Kyiv was absent from the vote and did not support it. in it, as it did in the early votes at the UN.
Netanyahu, the new Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, and the rest of the political elite will be asked to decide whether to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal and try to convince it of Israel's position, or to boycott it, similar to the policy towards the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, worked to advance the vote before the Sabbath, but the UN Secretariat rejected the request.
Due to the sanctity of the Sabbath, Erdan and the Israeli delegation were absent from the discussion and asked the US to vote "against" on behalf of Israel, as is customary in the UN.
According to Erdan, "the vote is a disgrace to the UN and any country that supports it.
No international body can determine that Israel is occupying Israel and that our presence in Jerusalem or Judea and Samaria is illegal.
A tribunal that received a mandate from a morally distorted body like the UN - has no legitimacy."
"The Palestinians refused all peace initiatives," added Ambassador Arden.
"Every day they incite murder and support terrorism, and at the UN they help them harm Israel in particular. We will not take part in this disgrace and show of lies. The decision to hold a vote that deals only with Israel - specifically on Shabbat, is another example of the moral decay of the UN, which prevents Israel's position from being heard in a vote whose results were determined in advance."
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