Israel to boycott security wall case
International court's jurisdiction questioned by Sharon cabinet
Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Friday February 13, 2004
The Guardian
The Israeli government said yesterday it will boycott a hearing at the international court of justice at The Hague on the legality of the "security fence" under construction through the occupied Palestinian territories.
The prime minister's office said that Ariel Sharon and an inner core of cabinet ministers made the decision after legal advisers said there was no point in fighting the case because the government had already submitted written arguments challenging the court's jurisdiction in a "political" case.
The submission said that the court "has no authority to discuss the terrorism prevention fence since it concerns Israel's basic right of self-defence", Mr Sharon's office said.
"The professional teams made their recommendations after considering the positions of major countries, including [inter alia] the US, UK, Germany, Canada and Australia."
Posted by P6 at February 13, 2004 02:02 AM
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Comments
Between this and the charges against the UK for cluster bombs in Iraq, I'm really glad we didn't sign on for that nonsense.
Posted by Phelps at February 13, 2004 10:21 AMSince Israel is an occupying power, and they are building the wall deep within the occupied territory, and the occupied people lack a state, this does fall under international law.
The submission said that the court "has no authority to discuss the terrorism prevention fence since it concerns Israel's basic right of self-defence", Mr Sharon's office said.
This is a legal argument wholly without merit. The IDF is unilaterally taking* the property of an occupied people.
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* "Taking" is a legal term referring to forced expropriation of a thing without compensation.