All Content

Israel�s Separation Barrier could displace tens of thousands of Palestinians

9 July 2004


As the International Court of Justice issued its ruling on Israel�s Separation Barrier, the Global IDP Project of the Norwegian Refugee Council warned in a report released today that the construction of the Barrier could lead to the additional displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians. �There are serious concerns that large numbers of Palestinians will be forced to leave their homes should the construction of the Barrier continue along the route originally envisaged by the Israeli government�, said Bjarte Vandvik, the acting Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. 

Palestinian film-maker, novelist hope to make award winning book into a movie

Massoud A. Derhally 9 July 2004


Waleed Zuaiter, a professional actor in his early thirties now living in Brooklyn Heights, New York, never thought his life would change the way it has after reading a book. While taking part in the US West coast premier of Homebody/Kabul, a play by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning playwright Tony Kushner, Zuaiter’s wife Joana came across On the Hills of God, a novel by Ibrahim Fawal, a Palestinian writer and filmmaker now residing in Birmingham, Alabama. Although he was preoccupied with acting at night while living in Berkley, California, Zuaiter’s captivation with the 450-page book sparked him into action. 

International Court Rules Against Israel's Wall

8 July 2004


The International Court of Justice (ICJ), principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has today rendered its Advisory Opinion in the case concerning the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (request for advisory opinion). In its Opinion, the Court finds unanimously that it has jurisdiction to give the advisory opinion requested by the United Nations General Assembly and decides by fourteen votes to one to comply with that request. The Court rules 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 régime, are contrary to international law”. 

NYT: World Court Says Israeli Barrier Violates International Law

Christine Hauser 9 July 2004


The International Court of Justice ruled today that it is against international law for Israel to build its barrier in the West Bank and that it should be dismantled. The advisory ruling by the World Court, in the Hague, is nonbinding. But it contributes to the debate surrounding construction of the network of fencing and ditches on lands that have been the focus of Middle East peace efforts. Israel says it is building the barrier as self-defense against attackers, but Palestinians call it an attempt to grab land. A copy of the ruling, posted on the Web site www.electronicintifada.net before the court began its reading of the decision, said that the construction of the wall is “contrary to international law.” 

AFP: ICJ rules Israel's West Bank barrier illegal, calls for dismantling: leaks

Stephanie van den Berg 9 July 2004


The International Court of Justice was to rule on Friday that Israel’s controversial West Bank security barrier is illegal and should be dismantled, according to leaked copies of its judgement published on the Internet. According to a 59-page document published on a Palestinian website, www.electronicintifada.net on Friday, the court will rule by fifteen to one 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.” 

The Australian: West Bank barrier illegal: report

8 July 2004


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. 

Exclusive: EI publishes leaked ICJ Advisory Ruling on Israel's West Bank Barrier

8 July 2004


US CST, 9PM, 8 JULY 2004 — 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.” EI has today (8 July 2004) obtained a copy of the ruling of the International Court of Justice, the contents of which were to be officially released tomorrow. While the source of the document remains unconfirmed at this stage, the contents and format of the document appear to be genuine and the ruling is a shocking blow to Israel. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

8 July 2004


This week, Israeli forces killed 17 Palestinians, 14 of them are civilians, including 6 children and a man suffering from a cognitive disorder. One of the victims was killed in an extra-judicial assassination in Nablus. Three of the children were killed by Israeli indiscriminate shelling in the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops continued their offensive on Beit Hanoun, razing agricultural land and damaging civilian infrastructure. Israeli forces destroyed 16 homes in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished two homes. Israel continues to build its Annexation Wall and continues the closures of towns and villages. 

Court Diary from the February 2004 ICJ Hearings

Victor Kattan The Hague, the Netherlands 9 July 2004


Victor Kattan, a correspondent for Arab Media Watch and occasional contributor to EI, was at the International Court of Justice in the Hague during February 2004 to report on the hearings to determine the legality of Israel’s West Bank Barrier, dubbed the “Apartheid Wall” by Palestinians. On the day the ICJ gives its advisory opinion, 9 July 2004, EI reprints Victor Kattan’s Court Diary from the hearings that took place from Monday 23rd February to Wednesday 25th February 2004. 

Israeli forces kills seven Palestinians and destroys 40 homes in Gaza

8 July 2004


On Thursday morning, 8 July 2004, Israeli occupying forces, continuing a wide scale offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun which started on the 28 June 2004, killed 7 Palestinians, including a woman. Thus, the number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of this offensive has mounted to 13, including 3 children and one woman. In addition, dozens of Palestinians have been wounded and at least 1400 donums of agricultural land have been razed. Also this morning, Israeli troops totally destroyed 30 Palestinian houses and severely damaged 10 other ones in Khan Yunis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip. Four Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire during this operation.