Australia’s Palestine Problem
Consortium NewsJul 20
ICJ: Israel’s Presence in Palestinian Territories 'Unlawful'
Above: An American-Israeli soldier protecting the Har Hevron settlement in the Masafer Yatta region on June 06, 2024 in Masafer Yatta, West Bank. Image copyright: Alessandro Levati/Contributor/Getty Images Europe via Getty Images
The Facts
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a nonbinding opinion on Friday stating that Israel's presence in the Palestinian territories — referring to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza — was "unlawful" and called for it to end.
The ICJ said Israel should stop all new settlement pursuits and withdraw settlers from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, labeling its policies in the territories as "de facto annexation."
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Through this ruling, the ICJ is effectively supporting terrorism against Israel and its citizens. The West Bank and East Jerusalem have never been sovereign territories and were captured in a defensive war. Israeli settlements act as a buffer, and suggesting that Israel dismantle these settlements without any security guarantees is tantamount to calling for Israel to stop defending itself. Indeed, this opinion, given its timing in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre, will only escalate the situation further.
Pro-Palestine narrative
This ruling is a major victory for Palestinian human rights and self-determination. The ICJ has codified something that Palestinians have known for 75 years — that Israel is an apartheid state that seeks to have sovereignty over all of the land between the river and the sea. Israel's occupation can no longer be overlooked, and Western leaders will have to finally begin questioning their seemingly unending support for Israel.