JOSH HAMMER: Case against Israel cheapens the word 'genocide'

International Court of Justice begins hearings in Gambia's case against Myanmar alleging genocide against Rohingya people, with implications for Israel's defense against South Africa.

Josh Hammer is senior counsel for the Article III Project and the Internet Accountability Project. He hosts "The Josh Hammer Show" podcast and syndicated radio show.

While this case does not concern Israel directly, the ICJ’s determinations may have major ramifications for the case Israel is now defending at the tribunal against South Africa.

This is especially true since one of the judges hand-picked by Gambia to sit on its ICJ panel is South African national Navi Pillay. That would be the same Navi Pillay who recently rushed to publish a report accusing Israel of genocide before retiring as head of the UN Human Rights Council commission of inquiry—a panel widely criticized for its flagrant institutional bias against Israel and the anti-Semitic remarks of its members.