No ruling date given by ICJ on Israel's separation wall case

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 26, 2004

No ruling date given by ICJ on Israel's separation wall case

The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) ended Wednesday its three-day public hearings on Israel's separation wall but no date was given to announce its rulings.

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The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) ended Wednesday its three-day public hearings on Israel's separation wall but no date was given to announce its rulings.

Declaring a close to proceedings, the court's president, Chinese judge Shi Jiuyong, said that "a date and time for the court to announce its rulings" would be set later.

During the three-day hearings, a total of 15 states and interest parties, including Palestine, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), gave their oral presentations on this case, which was boycotted by the Israeli government.

Israel has consistently rejected the ICJ's competence in the case, arguing the court should not rule on what it regards as a purely political issue. Israel also says the wall keeps suicide bombers out of the Jewish state.

On the last day of the hearings, both the Arab League and the OIC were highly critical of the project.

"The effects of the wall are many, but all negative. It is an affront to international law and adds to the suffering of the Palestinian people," said the Arab League's counsel, Michael Bothe.

He said the tribunal should issue a firm ruling that the barrier must be destroyed, that confiscated lands be returned and that compensation be paid.

The court ruling - if one is made - is not expected for several months and will not be binding. However, it is widely believed that the ruling would have great symbolic importance.

Earlier in December, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to request the ICJ to give its advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the construction of the wall on the Palestinian lands.

Established in 1946, the ICJ is the United Nations' highest judiciary body, set up to deal with conflicts between states. The court can also issue advisory opinions on the legality of certain matters. So far the ICJ has issued 24 such opinions.

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