The European Union has endorsed the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) stance that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967 is illegal.
Committed to International Law
According to 20minutes Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, emphasized the EU's commitment to international law, stating, "In a world of constant and increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions consistently, regardless of the issue at hand."
The EU acknowledges the ICJ's advisory opinion issued last Friday, Borrell explained. The ICJ concluded that "the continued presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal and must be terminated as soon as possible," Borrell reiterated. He added, "The State of Israel has the obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory."
A Consistent Position
According to Borrell, "All states have an obligation not to recognize this situation as legal and not to provide any aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by this illegal presence." He noted that these conclusions align closely with the EU's positions, which are fully consistent with UN resolutions regarding the status of the occupied Palestinian territory.
A Historic Opinion
The ICJ's opinion, though non-binding, could increase international pressure on Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority hailed the opinion as "historic" and a "victory," urging Israel to "end the occupation" and cease settlement activities.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the ruling as "false." He asserted, "Jews are not occupiers on their own land," reflecting Israel's longstanding position on the matter.
