The US informed the UN Supreme Courtroom on Wednesday that Israel can’t be legally pressured to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory with out safety ensures.
On the request of the UN, the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice is holding per week of hearings, throughout which no fewer than 52 nations will give their views on the Israeli occupation.
Most audio system have demanded that Israel finish its occupation, which got here after a six-day Arab-Israeli conflict in 1967, however Washington got here to defend its ally at courtroom.
“The courtroom mustn’t discover that Israel is legally obligated to instantly and unconditionally withdraw from occupied territory,” mentioned Richard Visek, authorized adviser on the US Division of State.
“Any transfer towards Israel’s withdrawal from the West Financial institution and Gaza requires a consideration of Israel’s very actual safety wants,” he argued.
“We had been all reminded of those safety wants on October 7,” he mentioned, referring to the Hamas assaults which have fueled the present battle.
The UN has requested the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice to subject an “opinion” on the “authorized penalties arising from Israel’s insurance policies and practices within the occupied Palestinian territories, together with East Jerusalem.”
The courtroom will in all probability make a ruling this yr, however it’s not binding on anybody.
– ‘No peace’ –
Israel shouldn’t be collaborating within the oral hearings, however has submitted a written submission describing the questions posed to the courtroom as “biased” and “tendentious.”
The October 7 assaults and ongoing violence within the Gaza Strip “reinforce the US’ resolve to urgently attain a definitive peace,” Visek mentioned.
Additionally on Wednesday, Egypt’s consultant, who has performed a key position in talks between Israel and the Palestinians, mentioned the occupation was “a continued violation of worldwide legislation.”
“The results of Israel’s long-term occupation are clear and there might be no peace, no stability and no prosperity with out upholding the rule of legislation,” mentioned Overseas Ministry Authorized Advisor Jasmine Moussa.
The hearings started Monday with three hours of testimony from Palestinian officers, who accused the Israeli occupiers of operating a system of “colonialism and apartheid.”
Palestinian Overseas Minister Riyad Al-Maliki known as on the judges to name for an finish to the occupation “instantly, fully and unconditionally.”
South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands informed the courtroom that Israel’s insurance policies had been “extra excessive” than what black South Africans suffered beneath apartheid earlier than 1994.
The case is separate from a high-profile case introduced by Pretoria towards Israel over alleged genocide through the present offensive in Gaza.
In that case, the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice dominated that Israel should do all the things in its energy to forestall genocidal acts in Gaza and allow humanitarian support.
