PHA-Exchange> Statement by PNGO regarding the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice

[Jihad Mashal]

Statement by the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations' Network
(PNGO) regarding the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) declaring the construction of the Annexation Wall a
violation of international law
 
12 July 2004
 
The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations' Network (PNGO) welcomes
the landmark Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) of 9th July 2004 which concludes that the construction of the
Israeli Annexation Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) is
a violation of international law, that it must be dismantled and that
adequate compensation must be paid to all Palestinians whose land was
confiscated by Israel to build the Annexation Wall. The ICJ holds that, 
 
Israel is under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international
law; it is under an obligation to cease forthwith the works of
construction of the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, to dismantle
forthwith the structure therein situated, and to repeal or render
ineffective forthwith all legislative and regulatory act relating
thereto.
 
The ICJ ruling upholds the principles of International Law and affirms
that International Human Rights Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention are
applicable to the OPT. The official recognition by the highest
international legal authority that the Annexation Wall is a violation of
international human rights and humanitarian law lends additional moral
strength to the Palestinian people's rightful struggle for an
independent state. 
 
PNGO urges local, regional and international groups and initiatives to
continue their campaigns against the Annexation Wall unrelentingly.
Peaceful resistance to and advocacy activities against the Apartheid
Wall on all levels largely contributed to last December's request by the
General Assembly of the UN to the ICJ to issue an Advisory Opinion
regarding the Wall's legality, without which the recent historic ruling
would have been impossible. PNGO thanks all local and international
groups campaigning against the Annexation Wall for their commitment and
devotion and encourages them to continue on this path. PNGO is in the
process of putting together an action plan outlining how the Network
intends to organize, implement and coordinate local and international
advocacy activities. 
 
In light of the ICJ's Advisory Opinion, 
 
PNGO calls upon the government of Israel to terminate the construction
of the Annexation Wall in the OPT without delay, to dismantle all
sections of the Wall which have already been erected, to repeal all
legislative and regulatory provisions relating to the Wall and to
provide compensation to all Palestinians who have been affected by the
Wall's construction.  
 
PNGO calls upon the Security Council and the General Assembly of the
United Nations to take concrete steps to stop Israel's violation of
international law as demanded by the ICJ. 
 
PNGO calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention to take all measures necessary to enforce the provisions of
the ICJ ruling, including the imposing of sanctions on Israel.
 
PNGO calls upon the international community to uphold their legal
obligations by putting pressure on the government of Israel to abide by
international law and implement the provisions of the ICJ ruling in
their entirety. 
 
PNGO calls upon the United States of America to stop its material
support for Israel which directly contributes to the construction of the
Annexation Wall ruled illegal under international law. 
 
PNGO calls upon the European Union to annul its preferential trade
agreement with Israel. 
 
Palestinian NGO Network   
 
 
 
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