Pro-Israel judge to become new ICJ president
Ugandan judge, Julia Sebutinde, who defended Israel against accusations of genocide in Gaza, is set to become president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), according to The New Arab on January 15th.
Lebanese judge Nawaf Salam who was the previous head of the ICJ, resigned rom the court, following his appointment as Lebanon’s new Prime Minister, according to an ICJ announcement on January 14th, Reuters reports.
Sebutinde opposed South Africa’s genocide allegations against Israel.
Sebutinde, who became the first African woman appointed to the ICJ in 2012, may face skepticism surroundig her impartiality.
Sebutinde was one of only two judges to vote against an ICJ directive calling on Israel to immediately stop its military operations in Gaza, the other judge being Israeli appointee, Aharon Barak.
Her controversial stance concerning Israel’s war on Gaza and occupation of the Palestinian territories has gathered attention towards her.
READ: UN says Israel must comply with ICJ measures to prevent genocide
The judge expressed her disagreement with the ICJ’s July 2024 ruling that found Israel’s occupation of Palestine unlawful. She described the proceedings as “one-sided forensic audit of Israel’s compliance with international law”.
Furthermore, Sebutinde has argued that South Africa had not managed to show genocidal intentions on Israel’s part under the terms of the Genocide convention.
Legal experts criticised Sebutinde’s reasoning, claiming it did not display a thorough analysis of the facts. In addition, the judge triggered diplomatic tensions, with Uganda’s UN Ambassador Adonia Ayebare publicly distancing the government from Sebutinde’s stance. Ayebare said in January 2024 on X:”Justice Sebutinde’s ruling at the International Court of Justice does not represent the Government of Uganda’s position on the situation in Palestine.”
Sebutinde has also said that the conflict between Israel and Palestine is beyond the court’s jurisdiction because it was “essentially and historically a political one”.
Despite being elected vice president of the ICJ in February 2024, Sebutinde’s involvement in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is still uncertain, The New Arab reports.
The New Arab, Reuters
