ICJ to open hearings on Israeli separation wall case next week – UN news item

International Court of Justice to open hearings on Israeli wall case next week

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today announced that it will hold three days of hearings starting Monday in the request for an advisory opinion on the consequences of the construction of a wall in the occupied Palestinian territory.

So far, Palestine, as well as South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Belize, Cuba, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Senegal, Sudan and Turkey — as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference — have indicated their desire to present oral statements in the case, The Hague-based ICJ said.

The Court's action comes in response to a request by the General Assembly, which at a December, 2003, emergency session on Palestine adopted a resolution asking the ICJ to urgently render an opinion on "the legal consequences arising from the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem."

The Court was also asked to consider the rules and principles of international law, including the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention as well as relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.