Friday, July 9, 2004
West Bank barrier illegal, should be dismantled: World Court
Agence France Presse Jerusalem, July 9
The World Court ruled on Friday that Israel's West Bank barrier is contrary to international law and that parts already built on Palestinian land should be dismantled, a leaked copy of the verdict said.
"The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law," said a copy of the non-binding verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), widely disseminated on the Internet.
"Israel is under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international law," it added.
"It is under an obligation to cease forthwith the works of construction of the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, (and) to dismantle forthwith the structure therein situated."
The court, the UN's highest legal body, also said that Israel should pay compensation to Palestinians whose property had been damaged by the construction work.
"Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem," it said.
It also called for the UN General Assembly and Security Council to take action to halt the construction work.
In a precautionary statement, the ICJ said it was aware that "various documents are being disseminated on the Internet by a number of organisations regarding the advisory opinion which the court is to render on Friday (today)."
It emphasised that "the only authentic text is the official text issued by the court."
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.