ei: The Australian: West Bank barrier illegal: report

A Palestinian website has posted what it said is the opinion of the International Court of Justice - due to be handed down later today - which states that Israel's West Bank barrier is illegal.

The world court will rule that "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," according to the document published on www.electronicintifada.net.

Israel's Haaretz newspaper also reported today that the ICJ would rule the barrier is illegal, based on documents obtained by the liberal daily. The wording of the documents in Haaretz and on the Palestinian website appears identical.

But Haaretz said one of the court's 15 judges had not agreed with the decision, while the website said it was a unanimous decision. The ICJ has issued a statement saying only its official document, to be released later today, was authentic. "Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory," according to the advisory opinion published on the Palestinian website.

Electronicintifada.net says it publishes news, commentary and analysis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "from a Palestinian perspective".

Original: www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,10089457,00.html