Anticipation for an International Court of Justice Decision to Delegitimize the Occupation of the West Bank

It is anticipated that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will issue a ruling next week regarding the illegitimacy of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank.

There are concerns among Israeli circles that the highest international court may rule that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal. Additionally, it may address demographic and geographic changes that effectively annex these territories to those occupied in 1948.

The court may call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the West Bank. Israeli sources have noted that the decision could range from “very bad to terrible and horrible.”

According to concerns from the Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, the decision could lead to sanctions against individuals and organizations related to the settlements in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. This could open the door for the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli political and military leaders.

The seizure of land in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem by Israeli forces continues, with recent decisions to legalize settlement outposts in various areas.

The Arab Parliament has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to legalize five settlement outposts in the West Bank and impose taxes on churches and their institutions in occupied Jerusalem. These actions are seen as blatant challenges and severe violations of international law and UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 2334.

The Arab Parliament stated that Israel’s attempts to legitimize settlement outposts and approve the construction of more settlements in the West Bank are dangerous moves aimed at deliberately eliminating the Palestinian cause. This occurs amidst ongoing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the serious escalation of violations and crimes by extremist settlers in the West Bank.

The Arab Parliament held Israel responsible for these practices, which have crossed all boundaries and represent a flagrant challenge to the entire international community. These actions are blatant violations of international law and undermine all international efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution.

The Arab Parliament called on the United Nations, the international community, and the Security Council to take immediate and urgent action to stop these Israeli settlement plans, which aim to change the historical and legal status of the occupied Palestinian territories. It urged them to abandon silence and confront these racist crimes.

Additionally, it called for the activation of mechanisms of international law and international humanitarian law and for holding the perpetrators of these crimes accountable to achieve justice and fairness for the Palestinian people, who face all forms of war crimes, and to provide international protection for them.