“ICJ: Justice or Politics” was a statement displayed on a banner at a pro-Israel demonstration in The Hague on Monday. In the last three days I have been covering the oral proceedings taking place before the international court of justice and the demonstrations here in The Hague for the British-based organization Arab Media Watch. Whilst the pleadings proceeded smoothly it has been interesting to note how few countries have come out in support of the Palestinians. Victor Kattan reports from the Hague. Read more about ICJ: Justice or Politics?
Palestinian Center for Human Rights25 February 2004
This week Israeli forces killed an unarmed Palestinian from Boreij refugee camp in central Gaza. Israeli forces invaded a number of Palestinian towns and villages. In Ramallah, Israeli forces radied banks and confiscated large amounts of cash. Israeli forces razed agricultural land in the Gaza Strip and raided Palestinian homes. Israel continues its use of Palestinian civilians as human shields and Israel continued the construction of Israel’s apartheid wall. Israeli forces demolished four homes. Israel continues to impose a total siege on Palestinian towns and villages. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
On the last day of the hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, presiding Judge Shi Jiuyong, declaring a close to the oral hearings said “a date and time for the court to announce its rulings” would be set later. The final session was opened by Sudan, followed by the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The statements elaborated on jurisdiction and whether the Court is competent in addition to substance such as international humanitarian law, human rights law and other legal consequences of the wall. Read more about ICJ wraps up hearings on legal consequences of the wall
Palestinian Center for Human Rights25 February 2004
On 22 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces handed written orders to a number of Palestinian families living near “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza city, informing them that their land would be seized for “military purposes” until the end of December 2005. Such orders mean that the land will be effectively confiscated. The orders provide seven days for appeal. PCHR today submitted an appeal on behalf of the owners of these lands to the Israeli military legal advisor. Read more about Israel orders land confiscation for Wall in Gaza
On the second day of the oral hearings in the case for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the wall, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, presided by President Shi, heard statements from Belize, a tiny nation in Central America, Cuba, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia and Senegal. Wednesay morning, the final day of the oral hearings, the Court is scheduled to hear from Sudan, the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Read more about Court concludes second day of hearings on Israel's Apartheid Wall
The ICJ hearing represents an historic milestone in the struggle of the Palestinian people for the promotion of rule of law and enforcement of universal standards and principles as the foundation for conflict prevention, resolution and a just and durable peace. It is the first time that the international court will hold deliberations concerning the legal aspects of the long- standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli measures directed against the Palestinian people. Read more about A case for the rule of law in Palestine
The Apartheid Wall, which began being built in the Occupied West Bank in June 2002, is nearly one third complete. It snakes its way deep inside the West Bank, devouring fertile land into de facto Israeli controlled areas, encircling residential areas, ghettoizing and imprisoning the Palestinian population. The 90,000 people that are already directly affected by the Wall’s 140 km “first phase” are well aware that their entire lives have been shattered, that their incomes, dignity, children’s future, and heritage were uprooted in a matter of weeks or months as bulldozers leveled their lands in order to confiscate and isolate them. Jamal Juma’ comments. Read more about The Wall Is illegal, now we must stop it
Opening the oral hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of the wall, Palestinian UN representative, Nasser Kidwa, said that the wall will render a two-state solution practically impossible. “The wall is not about security: It is about entrenching the occupation and the de facto annexation of large areas of Palestinian land,” Kidwa said. “This wall, if completed, will leave the Palestinian people with only half of the West Bank within isolated, non-contiguous, walled enclaves. It will render the two-State solution practically impossible,” he told the fifteen judges. Read more about International Court opens oral hearings on the wall
The construction, route and operation of Israel’s separation barrier inside the West Bank violate international human rights and humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. “Israel has a right and duty to protect its civilians from attack, but it must not use means that entail indiscriminate punishment of entire communities,” said a spokesperson. “Israel’s separation barrier seriously impedes Palestinian access to essentials of civilian life.” Read more about HRW: "West Bank barrier violates human rights"
After concluding a meeting in Geneva, the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) issued a statement demanding that Israel stop and reverse the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in and around East Jerusalem. The WCC welcomed the hearing of the International Court of Justice to provide its advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the wall and draws attention of the world of the immense human costs paid by the Palestinian people and its long-term consequences on peace and reconciliation. Read more about World Council of Churches demands that Israel stops construction of wall
