Israel vows to ignore verdict

2004-07-09 12:28

Jerusalem - Israel said on Friday it has no intention of halting work on its West Bank barrier as the world court was set to rule it contravenes international law and that parts built on Palestinian land should be dismantled.

"Israel has no reason to submit to a plainly absurd decision which pays no account to the role of the security fence in the fight against terrorism," a senior government official said on condition of anonymity as leaked copies of the verdict were widely published on the internet.

The court said in a ruling, that is merely advisory, that "the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying power, in the occupied Palestinian territory" was "contrary to international law", according to the leaks.

"It (Israel) 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, (and) to dismantle forthwith the structure therein situated."

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's highest legal body, also said in the much-anticipated verdict that Israel should pay compensation to Palestinians whose property had been damaged by the construction work.

"Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem," it said.

ICJ had "no jurisdiction"

It also called for the UN General Assembly and Security Council to take action to halt the construction work.

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

Even before reports of the verdict emerged, the Israeli government had made clear it had no intention of halting construction work which is due to be completed by the end of next year and should eventually stretch for some 700km.

While the Palestinians say its route - which often juts deep into the West Bank - shows its real intent is to pre-empt the borders of their promised future state, the Israelis point to a marked downfall in suicide attacks as proof of its success so far.

Israeli government spokesperson Avi Pazner said the ICJ had "no jurisdiction" to rule over the barrier and said that it should only come up for debate after Israel's planned pullout of the Gaza Strip is completed next year.

A senior Palestinian official expressed delight at the prospect of the world court's verdict which he said represented "a great victory for the Palestinians".

- AFP