World Court to Israel: Tear Down This Wall

The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz is reporting the International Court of Justice will rule today that Israel must tear down the 425-mile wall that stretches through much of the West Bank. According to documents obtained by the paper, the court will also rule Israel must pay compensation to Palestinians who have lost land because of the construction of the wall.
Fourteen out of 15 judges voted against the security wall. The sole backer of the wall was U.S. Judge Thomas Buerghenthal.

The court wrote in its majority opinion: "The wall, along the route chosen, and its associated regime, gravely infringe a number of rights of Palestinians residing in the territory occupied by Israel, and the infringements resulting from that route cannot be justified by military exigencies or by the requirements of national security or public order."

The International Court in The Hague, was asked to rule on the legality of the separation wall by the United Nations General Assembly last December.

Israel has repeatedly said it will not recognize the court's ruling. Ha'aretz is reporting the United States is expected to help block the United Nations Security Council from making any move to enforce the decision.

Both President Bush and Senator John Kerry have backed Israel's right to construct the wall through the West Bank. In a new policy paper, Kerry wrote: " The security fence is a legitimate act of self defense erected in response to the wave of terror attacks against Israeli citizens... the security fence is not a matter for the International Court of Justice."


Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative, President of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committee.

LISTEN TO AUDIO
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/09/144228