ICJ: Israel must pay reparations to Palestinians

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled today that Israel’s settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories violate international law and it must pay reparations to Palestinians who have lost property and income as a result. The ICJ determined that Israel’s transfer of settlers to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with its maintenance of their presence, contravenes the sixth paragraph of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. President Nawaf Salam, reading the findings of the 15-judge panel, stated: “The Court reaffirms that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law. The Court notes with grave concern reports that Israel’s settlement policy has been expanding since the Court’s Wall Advisory Opinion.” “The sustained abuse of Israel of its position as an occupying power through annexation and an assertion of permanent control over the occupied Palestinian territory and continued frustration of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination violates fundamental principles of international law and renders Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful,” he continued. The court also declared that Israel’s ongoing presence in Palestinian...