World Court rules Israel fence illegal, US brushes aside edict

By: Nabil Raza

THE HAGUE: The International Court of Justice ruled Friday that Israel's West Bank barrier violates international law therefore the Zionist State should stop building it and tear down the network of fences, concrete slabs and trenches in occupied Palestinian territory while the White House said it was “inappropriate” for the world court to issue a ruling on the wall and Israel said it has no intention of halting work on the fence.

“Israel was obliged to compensate people whose homes, businesses and farms had been destroyed in its construction,” the World Court said in the ruling on the legality of the barrier. “Israel ... has the obligation to cease forthwith the works of construction of the wall being built by it in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem.”

The UN's highest legal body said: “The Court finds further that Israel has the obligation to make reparation for the damage caused to all the natural or legal persons concerned.”

“The court is of the view that the United Nations, and especially the General Assembly and Security Council, should consider what further action is required to bring an end to the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall.”

The White House brushing aside the ruling said it did not think it was the right forum for addressing the issue. “We do not believe that that's the appropriate forum to resolve what is a political issue. This is an issue that should be resolved through the process that has been put in place, specifically the road map.”

Last December, the UN General assembly, at the Palestinians' request, asked the Netherlands-based court for its opinion.

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