July 19, 2024, New York, NY – Today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) released an advisory opinion concluding that Israel’s presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is ‘unlawful,’ and that Israeli policies and practices violate international law. The Court called on Israel to evacuate the Palestinian territories and ordered the Israeli government to provide reparations for the damage caused by these policies and practices. While the Court’s legal opinion is non-binding, it constitutes another shameful attempt to use lawfare to delegitimize and harm the Jewish state.

As the United States argued in front of the ICJ back in February 2024, Israel’s posture towards the West Bank and East Jerusalem is grounded on the ‘very real security needs’ that the country faces. The Court’s disregard for Israel’s legitimate security concerns shows both predetermined bias and a lack of consideration for the context and threats that have led to Israel’s control over the security of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

This is a new low for the very same international institutions that were supposed to uphold international law and rules. The ICJ has allowed itself to become a political weapon to be wielded against Israel, at a time when the latter is facing a war against an internationally recognized terror group that, on October 7, perpetrated the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Needless to say, this decision has already emboldened terror groups that seek to destroy Israel, as well as antisemites who accuse Jews in Israel and around the world of being ‘occupiers,’ ‘apartheid facilitators,’ and ‘genocide perpetrators.’ This makes ICJ’s decision even more reprehensible.

© 2020 American Jewish Congress.