Lapid urges world leaders to stop Palestinians referring conflict to International Court of Justice

Bringing the conflict before the ICJ "contravenes the principle of direct negotiations accepted by Israel, the Palestinians and the international community," Lapid said in a letter

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid sent a letter to world leaders, urging them to oppose the UN vote on an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Slamming the UN resolution as a “concerted effort to single out Israel,” and to “delegitimise our very existence,” Lapid said that the conflict with the Palestinians should be resolved in direct negotiations.

“A one-sided change to such a policy will have detrimental effects on the entire region. Bringing the matter before the ICJ expressly contravenes the principle of direct negotiations accepted by Israel, the Palestinians and the
international community, and will only play into the hands of extremists, further polarise the parties, and undermine the positive work that has been done over the past few years,” Lapid said.

“I urge your country to exercise your influence on the PA so that they refrain from promoting this dangerous move at the General Assembly. If the Palestinians continue to ignore these requests and this resolution is brought to a vote in December, I hope and expect that your country will vote against it and voice your clear concerns regarding its dangerous ramifications.”

The letter was sent to world leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Latvia, Georgia, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru and Vietnam.