South Africa’s Quest to Retake the Moral High Ground

South Africa's decision to take Israel to the International Court of Justice , accusing it of genocide, came as a surprise.

It also reflects a change in the way the country’s government sees itself and its role in the world.

The ICJ did not agree that South Africa misunderstood international law or the meaning of “genocide” The case represented a return to its identity for the South African government.

Race has always been South Africa’s fault line; whether you are white or Black matters much more than faith.

Jews were strongly overrepresented in the small group of white South Africans who joined the ANC .

The new South Africa had little reason to ally itself uncritically with the United States and Europe .

The ANC 's ally is Fatah , the party of Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat .

South African citizens have attacked the ANC government for choosing expediency over supporting human rights.

South Africa refused to take sides in the long-running conflict between Iran and the West in order to continue using Iranian oil.

Using legal processes to resolve political disputes, and even violent conflict, is a crucial part of South Africa’s culture.