Ramallah, 09-07-07: The third anniversary of the International Court of Justice ruling against Israel‘s Apartheid Wall on 9 July will pass this year with an announcement by Israeli authorities of plans to build a new section of the Wall on the lands of Beit Jala near Bethlehem, a land grab that will see the further confiscation of Palestinian land, economic devastation, the destruction of natural resources and the separation of Palestinian families from one another.
This latest section of the Wall is located near the "Tunnel Road" linking Jerusalem to Israeli settlements in the southern West Bank. Beit Jala Municipality engineer Samia Zeit stated that the Wall will eventually isolate 6,000 dunums (600 hectares) in the area, cutting off Palestinian villagers from their orchards. It will also separate lands belonging to the Christian Convent of Cremisan, as well as the houses of resident priests and nuns.
Israel‘s construction of the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank constitutes a grave violation of human rights and international law, is prohibited under the laws governing actions of occupying powers, and further violates a basic principle of the laws of occupation that legal rights to land cannot be acquired by way of military occupation.
This fact was internationally recognised when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) pronounced the illegality of Israel‘s so-called ‘Separation Barrier‘ 3 years ago today, on 9 July 2004. The ICJ found by a ruling of 14 votes to 1 that "construction of the wall by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, is contrary to international law," and that Israel is under obligation to "cease the wall’s construction, dismantle the existing structure and make reparations for any damage caused by the construction."
In a ruling of 13 votes to 2, the ICJ also found that "all states are under an obligation not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by such construction."
Israel has already built 57% of the Apartheid Wall, with 10% more currently under construction. While the Green Line is 320km long, the Apartheid Wall will stretch some 852km, annexing 48% of the West Bank, including much of its most fertile land, and penetrating as far as 22km into the West Bank to connect illegal Israeli settlements with Israel.
The Apartheid Wall separates Palestinians from Palestinians, and East Jerusalem from the West Bank. Upon completion it will isolate some 60,500 Palestinians living in 42 villages and towns in a closed military zone limbo between the Wall and the Green Line. Moreover 12 villages with a total population of 31,400 Palestinians will be completely surrounded by the Wall.
The Wall also has serious humanitarian consequences. Palestinians have been cut off from their farmland and livelihoods, places of employment, schools, universities, social networks, and health services. Women continue to be forced to deliver at checkpoints and newborns continue to die as a direct result.
Palestinian National Initiative General Secretary, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP today reiterated condemnation of construction of Israel‘s Apartheid Wall and the expansion of its illegal settlements, which continue to this day with impunity.
He pointed out that upon completion, the Wall will have fractured the West Bank into a series of disjointed cantons, effectively undermining the creation of any future viable, contiguous Palestinian state. This policy of unilaterally changing facts on the ground to impose its own ‘final solution‘ demonstrates that Israel has no interest in real peace or the just resolution of its ongoing occupation of Palestine, he added.
Dr. Barghouthi also called on the Palestine Liberation Organisation to stop neglecting the issue of the ICJ ruling, and urged its representatives to take decisive steps to bring the issue of the Wall to the United Nations.