Partners’ Statement on the Recent ICJ Ruling
July 31st, 2024 – Partners for Progressive Israel supports the Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice that the 57-year Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal under international law. However, we have no illusions that this – or any – Israeli government would comply with a decision couched in these terms. Rather, an effective and realistic political/diplomatic strategy is necessary in order to launch any such process – and it must begin with the United States, which has been the enabler of Israel’s ability to flout an overwhelming international consensus, and which has repeatedly vetoed binding Security Council resolutions ordering Israel to leave.
We expect nothing from the current Israeli government, which has arguably already annexed the West Bank in fact and function, if not in law, according to a recent article by the distinguished attorney Michael Sfard This is emphasized by the Knesset vote on July 18, by a majority of 68 to 9, purporting to permanently reject any Palestinian state. Thus we turn to our own United States government in order to recognize that Israel has no intention of leaving the West Bank, and to act accordingly with regard to aid and arms shipments until Israel complies with international law.
The ruling comes in the context of the savage and pointless Gaza War, a possible new and unnecessary war with Hezbollah, and unprecedented divisions within Israeli society. We hope that the ICJ ruling will add increased urgency to the efforts of the international community to induce Israel to comply with the clear judgment that it has no rights of possession in the West Bank or East Jerusalem, and that it may no longer claim that its occupation is “temporary.”
Paul Scham
President of Partners for Progressive Israel
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