International Court of Justice Rules Israel's Security Wall in Gaza is Illegal - 2004-07-09

The International Court of Justice states that the security wall being built by Israel in the occupied territory of Gaza is illegal. On Friday, the court ruled with 14 votes in favor and 1 against that the wall is contrary to international law and must be dismantled. The court stated that Palestinians whose properties have been confiscated for the implementation of this project should be compensated. Ahmed Qurei, the Palestinian Prime Minister, called this ruling a historic decision, and a senior advisor to Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, urged the United Nations to impose sanctions against Israel. However, Israel stated that it would not comply with the ruling, believing that the court lacks jurisdiction in this matter and that the decision fails to address Palestinian terrorism adequately. The White House stated that the ruling of the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's security wall is inappropriate, while the European Union expressed support for this decision. Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, said that the court is not a suitable forum for discussing the status of the wall. A spokesperson for the European Commission noted that the court's ruling apparently aligns with the European Union's position on the wall, which is that it should be dismantled because it is illegal.