[Press Release, 20-07-2024]
Een Andere Joodse Stem/Another Jewish Voice welcomes the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice that found the occupation of the Palestinian Territory by Israel as illegal according to international law.
As activists in solidarity with the Palestinians struggling against this brutal occupation, we know that this decades-long injustice cannot continue. The military rule, confiscation of land, house demolitions, illegal Israeli settlements, the prevention of access to natural resources and infrastructures, the checkpoints, segregation walls, administrative arrests and mass incarceration, as well as countless other routine types of harassment and dehumanization have made the lives of Palestinians unbearable and unsustainable. The court reaffirmed what many human rights organizations have already demonstrated: the steps taken by Israel to protect the continuous occupation and the illegal Jewish-only settlements amount to an illegal system of apartheid. Moreover, this violates the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. This violent and illegal occupation and apartheid should have ended years ago. It has to end immediately.
Numerous anti-occupation and peace organizations in Israel-Palestine are tirelessly advocating for the end of the occupation. They are often delegitimized and demonized by the Israeli government and settlers’ group. Today’s ruling is a recognition of their essential work, and of the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and liberty. The State of Israel must recognise this and follow the ICJ ruling. Reaching a sustainable political solution in Israel-Palestine based on respect for human rights and international law must become an utmost priority for the international community. Palestinians in Gaza are currently facing what the same international court has defined as a ‘real and imminent risk’ of genocide. Stopping the atrocities and achieving a solution that respects human rights is more urgent than ever.
Een Andere Joodse Stem calls the Belgian government and the European Union to take immediate action to ensure the court ruling is implemented and the Israeli occupation stops. Economic, academic and cultural institutions must also ensure that their operations are in accordance with the ICJ opinion.
As a first step, Belgium and the EU must halt all weapon transfers to Israeli armed forces that maintain the illegal occupation. Additionally, all economic institutions active in Belgium and Europe must be compelled to halt any economic connections or transactions with companies active in the illegal settlements or assisting them. Such steps, along with assertive diplomatic actions, are essential to ensure respect to international legal institutions and to make Israel accountable for its systematic violations of international law.