Palestinian Foreign Minister Accuses Israel of Apartheid in UN Court Hearing

The Palestinian foreign minister accused Israel of apartheid and urged the United Nations’ top court to declare Israel’s occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state as illegal. During the historic hearings, the Palestinian delegation argued that the occupation goes beyond defensive measures and morphed into an apartheid system. They emphasized that the ongoing occupation is the main obstacle to a solution in the ongoing conflict.

Israel's Justification and International Community's Stance

Israel, on the other hand, is likely to justify the occupation on security grounds. The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal, and Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem is not internationally recognized. This is not the first time the court has been asked to give an advisory opinion on Israeli policies. In 2004, it said a separation barrier Israel built through east Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank was “contrary to international law.” It also called on Israel to immediately halt construction, but Israel ignored the ruling.