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"It is one-sided and politically motivated," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said of the International Court of Justice's ruling that Israel's security barrier is illegal and must be dismantled.
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| By Ellis Shuman July 11, 2004 |
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"I want to make clear, the State of Israel absolutely rejects the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said this morning. "It is a one-sided and politically motivated ruling. The decision sends a destructive message to encourage the terror and denounces countries that are defending themselves against it," he said.
On Friday, the ICJ ruled that Israel's security fence was illegal, should be dismantled, and compensation should be awarded to Palestinians whose property was damaged by the fence's construction.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged Israel to respect international law ahead of a Palestinian initiative to have the world body pass resolutions and sanctions against Israel to enforce the court's ruling.
"I think the decision of the court is clear. Whilst we all accept the government of Israel has a responsibility, and indeed the duty to protect its citizens, any action it takes has to be in conformity with international law," Annan told reporters, while visiting Thailand.
Israel is mobilizing its efforts to contain the diplomatic damage of the court's ruling, while continuing the security barrier's construction in accordance with the latest ruling of Israel's High Court of Justice, rather than the international court. The United States is expected to veto any proposed Security Council resolution that would harshly criticize or impose sanctions on Israel.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said yesterday that "Israel will continue building the security fence, which is meant to protect the lives of the citizens of Israel."
Sharon today said the ICJ ruling was a "slap in the face" in the global war against terrorism. "Israel completely rejects the ICJ's one-sided ruling, which was purely political in nature," he said at the cabinet meeting.
Sharon accused the court of ignoring "the reason for the construction of the fence - murderous Palestinian terror... It is a one-sided and politically motivated ruling. The decision sends a destructive message to encourage the terror and denounces countries that are defending themselves against it," he said.
Referring to this morning's terror bombing in Tel Aviv, in which one woman was killed and nearly 30 people were injured, Sharon said, "This morning's murder is the first murder under the patronage of the International Court of Justice's ruling."
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