Gary Fitleberg, July 13, 2004

The European Commission said that the court appeared to have confirmed the European Union's view that the fence is illegal and urged the Israelis to remove it from occupied territory.

"The European Union continues to call on Israel to remove the barrier from inside the occupied Palestinian territories including in and around East Jerusalem," European Commission Spokesman Jean Christophe Filori said.

The French Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the International Court's ruling was non-binding, Israel Radio reported Saturday. "France will study the court-issued document and will consult its European partners on the issue," the statement read.

France, historically a bastion and breeding ground of anti-Semitism, wisely may realize that one day this might have dangerous and serious implications within its own borders and country.

Jordan, an alleged "peace partner" of Israel and actual historical and legal homeland of Arab "Palestine" and "Palestinians" ironically was the driving force and key litigant before the ICJ, and hailed the ruling, saying it carried "large legal, ethical and political weight."

"The ICJ's ruling, that was adopted with a large majority of 14 judges out of 15, represents a large legal, ethical and political weight which Israel cannot ignore," Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said.

"The decision indicates that the tribunal has accepted all Jordanian arguments and rejected all pretexts cited by Israel, which alleged the construction of the wall was a strategic requirement necessitated by security considerations," he added.

Muasher said that his government was "appraising the implications of the decision with a view to taking all necessary steps to urge Israel to implement the ruling."

Malaysia's foreign minister said Saturday that Israel should follow the ruling of the International Court of Justice and tear down its West Bank security fence.

Malaysia's former Prime Minister publicly called for Israel's destruction during an international summit.

Syed Hamid Albar also lauded the UN court's decision to condemn Israel's long-running "occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem."

"Malaysia calls upon the United Nations to urgently consider further action required to bring to an end the illegal situation," Syed Hamid said. "The international community ... expects Israel, as the occupying power, to respect the decision of the court."

The only time the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria (wrongly called "West Bank" by most of the world") and "East Jerusalem" were "occupied" was for nineteen years from 1948-1967 by Jordan or Arab "Palestine" which they conquered in an aggressive attack and war with the intention to annihilate the modern Jewish State of Israel.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg