Israel taps former Supreme Court president Barak for ICJ panel

JERUSALEM – Israel has named its former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak as its addition to an International Court of Justice (ICJ) panel due this week to hear a genocide allegation filed against the country, an Israeli official said on Jan 7.

Under the ICJ’s rules, a state that does not have a judge of its nationality already on the bench can choose an ad hoc judge to sit in their case.

Mr Barak, a champion of Supreme Court activism, was a focus of opposition for members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, whose judicial reform push in 2023 bitterly polarised the public.

South Africa, which accuses Israel of genocide in its war on Hamas,

has also appointed an ad hoc judge, former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, the South African media said.

Israel’s war with Hamas began on Oct 7,

when Hamas fighters attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed 22,700 Palestinians, Palestinian officials say. REUTERS