ICRC assails Israel on wall; US, Europeans to sit out ICJ hearings

By: Nabil Raza

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: The UN court said Wednesday the US and most European countries will not appear at the world court to press their arguments over the legality of the Israeli barrier in the Palestinian territories.

According to a court statement thirteen countries, along with the Palestinian Authority, Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, will participate when the International Court of Justice convenes Monday to hear oral arguments.

The number was far fewer than the 44 UN member countries that submitted written briefs of their positions to the court. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Sudan, Turkey, Cuba, Belize, South Africa, Algeria, Madagascar, Senegal, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia are the countries scheduled to speak before the 15 judges, the court said.

A Palestinian Authority delegation will be the first to present its views during three days of hearings scheduled through next Wednesday, it said.

Meanwhile, in a rare departure from its traditional neutrality, the International Red Cross on Wednesday broke its silence on the barrier expressing “serious concern” that it illegally cuts Palestinians off from their own land, and that it should not be built.

Israel has gone “far beyond what is permissible for an occupying power under international humanitarian law,” said the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Yaakov Levy, Israeli ambassador to international organizations in Geneva, regretted the ICRC's decision to go public.

Separately, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie called Wednesday for international forces to keep the peace between Israelis and Palestinians if Israel withdraws from Gaza, to restore confidence as Palestinians resume control.

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