Former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak has resigned from the panel of judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, citing "personal family" reasons, according to reports on Wednesday. In his resignation, Barak expressed gratitude to the court for the cooperation he received from the staff and fellow judges.
Barak was selected to serve as an Ad Hoc Judge on the court by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a right that a country can exercise if no judge of its nationality is present on the bench. Judges do not necessarily have to be of the same nationality as the government that selects them.
💥Former Israeli Chief Justice Aharon Barak has resigned from the International Court of Justice in The Hague "for personal reasons." pic.twitter.com/AsFnuOlijX
— Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي (@NTarnopolsky) June 5, 2024
The Israeli government now faces the decision of whether to appoint a new judge to replace Barak on the ICJ. Legal sources speculated to Ynet that if a replacement is chosen, the top contenders would likely be former Supreme Court Presidents, such as Esther Hayut or Dorit Beinisch.
Israeli officials have stated their willingness to appoint a future judge, as long as the court remains "fact-based." The officials told Ynet that so far, the court's orders have not "harmed the IDF's ability to advance the achievement of the war goals."
President Isaac Herzog thanked Barak for his service, saying, "[Barak's] special contribution and influence on the legal world in Israel and in the world was of great importance in the legal campaign against those who seek our harm. We will continue to stand firm against the evil, the hypocrisy, and the false plots against the State of Israel and the IDF."
Barak's resignation comes at a time of ongoing tension between Israel and the ICJ over the court's investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Israeli forces during the recent conflict.
