Arguments end in case of Israeli wall

Arguments end in case of Israeli wall
Agence France-Presse
Thursday, February 26, 2004

THE HAGUE The World Court's hearings into Israel's West Bank barrier ended Wednesday with arguments by pro-Palestinian parties that the structure was destroying the chances for peace in the Middle East.

Israel, which boycotted the three days of hearings at The Hague, voiced hope afterward that the UN's International Court of Justice would not "fall into a trap" and would decline to issue any verdict on the barrier's legality.

The Palestinians, who argue that Israel is in clear breach of international law by building the barrier on their land, were optimistic that the court would find against the Jewish state.

Declaring a close to proceedings, the presiding judge, Shi Jiuyong, said "a date and time for the court to announce its rulings" would be set later. Any verdict will be purely advisory.

In the final round of hearings, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference argued that the barrier was not about security but merely an attempt to grab Palestinian land.

"The wall does not stand between terrorists and potential victims but between the farmer and his land" said the league's chief counsel, Michael Bothe. He said the barrier divided "the child and its school, patient and doctor and families who want to unite and the faithful from his or her holy places."

"The wall being constructed in the Palestinian occupied territories presents separation, leads to discrimination," he told the judges. It "destroys real prospects for a fair and lasting peace."

"The effects of the wall are many, but all negative. It is an affront to international law" and adds "to the suffering of the Palestinian people."

The Islamic conference counsel, Monique Chemillier-Gendreau, said "with the wall, a viable Palestine is no longer possible and therefore no peace" is possible. "The wall occupies large areas of summarily confiscated Palestinian territory," she said.

"It has been abundantly demonstrated that this huge military installation has led to a massive violation of human rights."

An Israeli government legal adviser, Daniel Taub, who observed proceedings, said they had been one-sided.

"There is nothing that we have heard to make us believe it's anything other than an attempt to put people who are trying to defend themselves from terror on trial rather than the terrorists themselves," he said.

Taub took heart from the decisions by the United States, European Union and Russia - three of the four backers of the road map peace plan - to boycott the hearings on the grounds that the World Court was an inappropriate venue for such a case.

"We still hope that the court will realize it's a trap," said Taub.

The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has vowed to forge ahead with construction of the barrier, insisting that it is essential to halt suicide attacks.

Military sources in Israel said Wednesday that the planned route was to be shortened by some 80 kilometers, or 50 miles. It was previously expected to snake across the West Bank for more than 700 kilometers by the time work is completed late next year.