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UN demands Israel scrap barrier
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding that Israel comply with a world court ruling to dismantle its West Bank barrier.
The vote was passed with 150 in favour, 6 opposed and 10 abstentions.
All EU countries voted in support after agreeing changes to the text with Arab states, but the US opposed it.
The resolution, which is non-binding, was drafted after the International Court of Justice ruled the barrier illegally cut into Palestinian land.
'Perversion of justice'
The 191-nation General Assembly has no power to force countries to act on its recommendations, but the issue could then go to the Security Council which theoretically has the power to impose economic sanctions.
However, the US has spoken out against the ICJ's advisory ruling and the new resolution, and wields a veto in the Security Council.
BBC UN correspondent Susannah Price says the resolution is an attempt to put moral pressure on Israel.
Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman described it as a "perversion of justice".
"It is simply outrageous to respond with such vigour to a measure that saves lives and responds with such casual indifference and apathy to the ongoing campaign of Palestinian terrorism that takes lives," he said.
But Palestinian representative Nasser al-Kidwa said it was time for Israel to comply - and for "additional measures" at a later stage, if it does not.
The Palestinian Authority has said it will delay pushing for a Security Council resolution until after the US presidential elections in November.
Barrier
Israel has insisted it needs the barrier to stop Palestinian suicide bombers.
Opponents say the barrier, which juts into the West Bank, is a ploy to seize land and complicates moves to create a Palestinian state.
Israel says it will comply with an Israeli Supreme Court ruling ordering the 640 km (400 mile) barrier to be re-routed around Jerusalem, but has vowed to continue to press on with construction.
US Deputy Ambassador James Cunningham said that the resolution was unbalanced.
"The United States remains convinced that the focus must remain on President Bush's vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side," he said.
Israel, Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau also opposed the resolution.
In a statement, the European Union underlined that Israel had the right to self-defence and that it was troubled by some sections of the world court ruling, which is also non-binding.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3911785.stm
All EU countries voted in support after agreeing changes to the text with Arab states, but the US opposed it.
The resolution, which is non-binding, was drafted after the International Court of Justice ruled the barrier illegally cut into Palestinian land.
'Perversion of justice'
The 191-nation General Assembly has no power to force countries to act on its recommendations, but the issue could then go to the Security Council which theoretically has the power to impose economic sanctions.
However, the US has spoken out against the ICJ's advisory ruling and the new resolution, and wields a veto in the Security Council.
BBC UN correspondent Susannah Price says the resolution is an attempt to put moral pressure on Israel.
Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman described it as a "perversion of justice".
"It is simply outrageous to respond with such vigour to a measure that saves lives and responds with such casual indifference and apathy to the ongoing campaign of Palestinian terrorism that takes lives," he said.
But Palestinian representative Nasser al-Kidwa said it was time for Israel to comply - and for "additional measures" at a later stage, if it does not.
The Palestinian Authority has said it will delay pushing for a Security Council resolution until after the US presidential elections in November.
Barrier
Israel has insisted it needs the barrier to stop Palestinian suicide bombers.
Opponents say the barrier, which juts into the West Bank, is a ploy to seize land and complicates moves to create a Palestinian state.
Israel says it will comply with an Israeli Supreme Court ruling ordering the 640 km (400 mile) barrier to be re-routed around Jerusalem, but has vowed to continue to press on with construction.
US Deputy Ambassador James Cunningham said that the resolution was unbalanced.
"The United States remains convinced that the focus must remain on President Bush's vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side," he said.
Israel, Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau also opposed the resolution.
In a statement, the European Union underlined that Israel had the right to self-defence and that it was troubled by some sections of the world court ruling, which is also non-binding.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3911785.stm
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NEW YORK - The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution condemning Israel's West Bank separation fence late on Tuesday, with 150 nations voting in favor of the draft, six nations opposing it and 10 abstaining.
Aside from Israel, the United States, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau and Australia voted against the resolution.
Canada, Uruguay, Cameroon, Tonga, Vanuatu, El Salvador, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Nauru and the Solomon Islands abstained.
The assembly's vote, like the opinion of the International Court of Justice, is not legally binding, but both have symbolic value as international statements of support for the barrier's destruction.
Both demand that the barrier be dismantled and reparations be paid to Palestinians harmed by its construction.
A last-minute compromise struck between European Union nations and the Palestinian sponsors of the resolution enabled the entire EU bloc to support the draft.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/453872.html
Aside from Israel, the United States, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau and Australia voted against the resolution.
Canada, Uruguay, Cameroon, Tonga, Vanuatu, El Salvador, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Nauru and the Solomon Islands abstained.
The assembly's vote, like the opinion of the International Court of Justice, is not legally binding, but both have symbolic value as international statements of support for the barrier's destruction.
Both demand that the barrier be dismantled and reparations be paid to Palestinians harmed by its construction.
A last-minute compromise struck between European Union nations and the Palestinian sponsors of the resolution enabled the entire EU bloc to support the draft.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/453872.html
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says Israel should abide by international law after the world court ruled that the controversial West Bank separation barrier is illegal.
Speaking to reporters in Bangkok on Friday, Annan said Israel is responsible for complying with the decision.
"I think the decision of the court is clear," he told reporters in Bangkok, where he is due to attend a world AIDS conference.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's highest legal body, ruled on Friday that the 700 km barrier violated international law.
"Whilst we all accept the government of Israel has a responsibility, and indeed the duty to protect its citizens, any action it takes has to be in conformity with international law and has to respect the interest of the Palestinians," Annan said.
Israeli responsibility
"And Israel, as an occupying power, is responsible for the welfare of the Palestinian people."
"The report has been given to the general assembly and we'll see where they go from there," he said.
"I don't want to prejudge what they may decide, so we'll leave it to the general assembly."
The ruling said that those sections that cut into Palestinian areas should be torn down and ordered Israel to pay compensation for damages caused.
While the Palestinians hailed the ruling as a great victory, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Sunday that Israel totally rejected the world court's ruling that the barrier breached international law.
Total rejection
"I want to make clear, the state of Israel absolutely rejects the ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague," Sharon said. "It is a one-sided and politically motivated ruling."
"The state of Israel totally rejects the opinion of the world court," Sharon said in his first public reaction to the advisory judgement.
And the White House, Israel's chief supporter, said it was "inappropriate" for the ICJ to issue the ruling, a sentiment echoed by Democrat John Kerry, who is challenging President George Bush in the US presidential election in November.
However, the Palestinian Authority has confirmed it would fight Israel all the way through the United Nations after the court gave its decision by 14 to one.
But on Sunday the PA decided to hold off pushing for a UN resolution against the West Bank barrier until after November's US presidential elections as Israel looked to Washington to veto any eventual vote at the Security Council.
"We decided that it was not wise now to go to the Security Council because we don't want to incite the Americans, especially during the election campaign and it's better to wait until after the elections," one minister said after a meeting chaired by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
"In the meantime we will take the issue to the (UN) General Assembly," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1C53CA1B-AB40-45E7-86FD-3F303951496D.htm
"Annan: Israel must accept ICJ ruling"
Annan: Black people in Sudan must accept the rapes and murders perpetrated by their arab moslem brothers...
Christians in sudan must accept enslavement and rape...
Thanks Coffee Cup...
Annan: Black people in Sudan must accept the rapes and murders perpetrated by their arab moslem brothers...
Christians in sudan must accept enslavement and rape...
Thanks Coffee Cup...
It's not a ruling. It's a non-binding opinion. The ICJ can't issue rulings.
The GA resolution condemning the barrier is also non-binding.
@%<
The GA resolution condemning the barrier is also non-binding.
@%<
I can hear Coffee Can's tiny feet stomping in frustration while he screams "You must obey me, you must obey me!!!" Bwahahahahahaha!
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