Al-Ahram: AL: Israel is avoiding International Court of Justice on apartheid Wall because of weak case
Regional-Palestine, Politics, 2/23/2004

The Arab League (AL) described Israel's decision to boycott Monday's scheduled hearings by the International Court of Justice in the Hague on the apartheid separation wall being built in the West Bank as a reflection of its weak position and pretext marketed to justify its anti-peace move.

Husam Zaki, the Spokesman for the AL, said in a statement published by Al-Ahram Egyptian daily on Saturday that the continued building of the wall blocks any endeavor to advance the Middle East peace process ahead. He added the legal hearings and supporting documents prepared by the AL to prove illegality of the wall confirm that the International Court could come up with a consultative opinion that this wall violates international law, charters and norms.

For his part, Yehya al-Jamal, head of the AL' s legal delegation to the Court, also told Al-Ahram in a similar statement that his delegation is going to put forward the verbal hearings before the court as of Monday.

He explained that his delegation had already embarked on studying all various illegal aspects concerning the building of the wall and its dangerous repercussions which would further aggravate the already deteriorated situation of the Palestinians under occupation.

Meantime, Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa stressed on Sunday that Israel's announcement of its withdrawal from the session of the International Court of Justice which will start today ( Monday) to give advisory opinion on the legality of the racial separation wall which Israel is building in the occupied territories, reflects the power of the Arab position in this case.

In a statement before leaving to The Hague to attend the first sessions of the International Court of Justice, Moussa said that the Arab League has charged a group of the Arab and foreign lawyers to follow up the written procedures.

Previous Stories:
  Red Cross: Israel's barrier violates humanitarian law   (2/19/2004)
  AL's concerns over Israeli digging under Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque   (2/18/2004)
  Preparations for Sharon- Qrei summit, Sharon studies referendum to dismantle settlements   (2/5/2004)
  Egyptian judge to participate in International Court of Justice case on Israeli wall   (2/4/2004)
  Guardian criticizes Britain rejection to file separation wall issue to ICJ   (1/31/2004)
  Palestinian- Egyptian talks in Ramullah aims at a new truce   (1/28/2004)

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