Israel's Apartheid Wall
Case before the International Court of Justice
On 8 December 2003, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution (A/RES/ES-10/14) in which it requested the International Court of Justice to "urgently render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the construction of the wall being built by Israel, in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in and around East Jerusalem, considering the rules and principles of international law. The Request for an Advisory Opinion was transmitted to the Court by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in a letter dated 8 December 2003 which was received in the Registry on 10 December 2003. The ICJ ruling against the Barrier was rendered on 9 July 2004. (Added 22 January 2004)

Latest Analysis
  • From the Hague to Mas'ha, Tanya Reinhart (15 July 2004)
  • The Israeli High Court of Justice and the Apartheid Wall, John Sigler (15 July 2004)
  • Developments since World Court opinion on Israeli wall "less than promising", UN News (6 August 2004)
  • General Assembly debates measures after ICJ's ruling on the wall, UN News (17 July 2004)

    EI publishes leaked ICJ Advisory Opinion
  • EI publishes leaked ICJ Advisory Ruling on Israel's West Bank Barrier, The Electronic Intifada (8 July 2004)

    ICJ Advisory Opinion
  • International Court Rules Against Israel's Wall, ICJ (9 July 2004)
  • The Court has spoken: What's Next?, Azem Bishara (11 July 2004)
  • UN Assembly to meet Friday in emergency session on Israeli wall ruling, UNIS (13 July 2004)
  • Summary of the advisory opinion, ICJ (9 July 2004)
  • Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall
    in the Occupied Palestinian Territory     (PDF) Advisory Opinion, ICJ (9 July 2004)

    ICJ: Separate Opinions of Judges
  • Judge Koroma | Judge Higgins | Judge Kooijmans
  • Judge Al-Khasawneh | Declaration of Judge Buergenthal
  • Judge Elaraby | Judge Owada

    Governmental Reactions
  • UN Assembly votes overwhelmingly to demand Israel comply with ICJ ruling (21 July 2004)
  • Israeli Statement on ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israel's Security Fence (9 July 2004)
  • US reaction to International Court of Justice ruling on Israel's Barrier (9 July 2004)
  • EU Statement on the Advisory Opinion of the International Court (9 July 2004)

    Other reactions to the ICJ Opinion
  • Bureau of Palestinian Rights Committee welcomes advisory opinion by International Court of Justice, UN/DPI (13 July 2004)
  • Aid agency welcomes ICJ ruling on Israel's separation barrier, Oxfam International (9 July 2004)
  • Dismantle the wall, says International Court of Justice, Amnesty International (9 July 2004)

    Video Coverage
  • Video Stream - International Court of Justice
  • Audiovisual broadcast of public session of 9 July 2004 from 3 p.m.
  • Audio broadcast

    Oral Pleadings
  • Monday 23 February 2004, morning (PDF)
  • Monday 23 February 2004, afternoon (PDF)
  • Tuesday 24 February 2004, morning (PDF)
  • Tuesday 24 February 2004, afternoon (PDF)
  • Wednesday 25 February 2004, morning (PDF)

    Written Statements
  • Palestine (PDF) | Maps and Graphics (PDF) | Annexes (PDF)
  • Israel (PDF) | Annexes (PDF)
  • South Africa (PDF) | Namibia (PDF)
  • Ireland (PDF) | European Union (PDF)
  • United States (PDF)
  • Sweden (PDF) | Norway (PDF)
  • Other written statements

    Overview
  • ICJ wraps up hearings on legal consequences of the wall, Arjan El Fassed (25 February 2004)
  • ICJ: Justice or Politics? Victor Kattan (25 February 2004)
  • Court concludes second day hearings on Israel's Apartheid Wall, Arjan El Fassed (24 February 2004)
  • Even if Palestine wins at The Hague..., Ali Abunimah (24 February 2004)
  • ICJ and the Wall: Replacing Politics With Law, Al-Haq (23 February 2004)
  • International Court opens oral hearings on the wall, Arjan El Fassed (23 February 2004)
  • The Separation Barrier and International Humanitarian Law, International Humanitarian Law Research Initiative (2004)
  • Israel's "Separation Barrier" in the occupied West Bank: Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law consequences, Human Rights Watch (23 February 2003)
  • The place of the fence/wall in international law, Amnesty International (19 February 2003)
  • Legality of Israel's Wall to be tested before the International Court of Justice, Shane Darcy (6 February 2004)
  • Legal consequences of Israel's construction of a Separation Barrier in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (PDF) Oxford Public Interest Lawyers (February 2004)
  • The case against the barrier, Shawqi Issa, Palestine Report (28 January 2004)
  • Facing up to the wall, Dina Ezzat, Al-Ahram Weekly (22 - 28 January 2004)
  • Israeli peace and human rights groups speak out on the wall, Joint statement by 13 Israeli peace and human groups (25 January 2004)
  • The UN General General Assembly Requests a World Court Advisory Opinion On Israel’s Separation Barrier, Pieter H.F. Bekker, American Society of International Law (December 2003)

    The Case
  • ICJ wraps up hearings on legal consequences of the wall, Arjan El Fassed (25 February 2004)
  • Court concludes second day hearings on Israel's Apartheid Wall, Arjan El Fassed (24 February 2004)
  • International Court opens oral hearings on the wall, Arjan El Fassed (23 February 2004)
  • A case for the rule of law in Palestine, BADIL (23 February 2004)
  • World Council of Churches demands that Israel stops construction of wall, World Council of Churches (20 February 2004)
  • Live video coverage of ICJ hearings on wall on the Internet, ICJ (19 February 2004)
  • Comments from the Swedish Government to International Court, PCHR (18 February 2004)
  • South African cabinet minister blasts West Bank Barrier, SAPA (17 February 2004)
  • Israel won't appear at ICJ hearing on Israel’s separation wall, Arjan El Fassed (12 February 2004)
  • EU: "Israel must stop building barrier", Arjan El Fassed (11 February 2004)
  • Verbatim report of proceedings of European Parliament on the ICJ hearing on the Israeli wall, European Parliament (11 February 2004)
  • Schedule of public hearings, 23-25 February 2004, ICJ (19 February 2004)
  • International Court refuses to disqualify judge, ICJ (3 February 2004)
  • 44 countries file statements to International Court, ICJ (3 February 2004)
  • Joint Written Intervention, ICJ/FIDH/PCHR (1 February 2004)
  • FM Jordan reiterates position against Israeli barrier, Jordanian Foreign Ministry (1 February 2004)
  • ICJ must continue with advisory opinion on wall, Al-Haq (31 January 2004)
  • Britain opposes international court review of security fence, Ewen MacAskill, The Guardian (30 January 2004)
  • U.S. Written Statement Submitted in ICJ Proceeding on Israeli Security Barrier, US State Department (30 January 2004)
  • US rejects ICJ jurisdiction on separation barrier, Transcript (30 January 2004)
  • Israeli peace and human rights groups speak out on the wall, Joint statement by 13 Israeli peace and human groups (25 January 2004)
  • International Court authorizes participation of OIC to 'Wall-Case', ICJ (22 January 2004)
  • International Court authorizes Arab League participation in 'Wall-case', ICJ (15 January 2004)
  • International Court orders proceedings in wall case, ICJ (19 December 2003)
  • UNGA requests International Court of Justice to issue opinion on Separation Wall, UNGA (8 December 2003)

    Materials
  • GA Resolution A/RES/ES-10/14 (8 December 2003)
  • UN Documents on the Separation Barrier
  • UNRWA Documents on the Separation Barrier
  • Composition of the Court
  • Filing of written statements
  • ICJ advisory opinion request/ Separation wall - background note and list of documents, ICJ (19 January 2004)
  • Order organizing the proceedings, ICJ (19 December 2003)
  • Introductory Note and List of Contents of the Dossier (PDF) prepared by the Secretariat of the United Nations (Statute, Art. 65, para. 2)
  • Humanitarian Access and the Jerusalem Barrier, OCHA (December 2003)
  • The West Bank Wall, OCHA (July 2003)

    Earlier ICJ opinions on Israeli actions
  • ICJ advisory opinion of 26 April 1988/ United Nations Headquarters Agreement/ PLO office - ICJ case summary text

    Activism and the ICJ hearing
  • Israelis protest against the wall in front of Sharon's residence, ICAW (24 February 2004)
  • Israeli peace groups continue protests against the wall, Israeli Coalition Against the Wall (22 February 2004)
  • Palestinian protests against Israel's Apartheid Wall, IPC (22 February 2004)
  • Campaign Activities, StoptheWall (21-25 February 2004)
  • Worldwide Activism
  • Exhibit in Amman conveys horrors of Israel's separation wall, Rana Sabbagh-Gargour, The Daily Star (16 February 2004)
  • Increased Momentum against the Apartheid Wall in Jordan, PENGON/Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (13 February 2004)
  • We Demand Justice for Palestine! Make the Wall Fall!, PENGON/Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (7 February 2004)
  • Popular Hearings and Demonstrations against the Wall as ICJ in The Hague Hears Oral Arguments, PENGON/Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (7 February 2004)
  • Israeli peace and human rights groups speak out on the wall, Joint statement by 13 Israeli peace and human groups (25 January 2004)
  • World Social Forum 2004 in Mumbai India Begins, Palestinians Prepare for Strong Presence Against the Occupation and Apartheid Wall, PENGON/Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (17 January 2004)

    Websites
  • International Court of Justice
  • Other websites


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