World Court Says Israel’s Occupation Violates International Law

By 11 votes to 4, is of the opinion that the state of Israel’s continued presence in the occupied territory is unlawful. By 14 votes to 1, is of the opinion that the State of Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory. The court comes to the conclusion that Israel’s policies and practices, including the maintenance and expansion of settlements, the construction of associated infrastructure and the wall, the exploitation of natural resources, the proclamation of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the comprehensive application of Israeli domestic law in East Jerusalem and its extensive application in the West Bank entrench Israel’s control of the occupied Palestinian territory, notably of East Jerusalem and of Area C of the West Bank. These policies and practices are designed to remain in place indefinitely and to create irreversible effects on the ground. Consequently, the court considers that these policies and practices amount to annexation of large parts of the occupied Palestinian territory.