Israel Challenges ICJ Ruling on Unlawful Presence in Palestinian Territories

The International Court of Justice has ruled Israel's presence in Palestinian territories illegal, calling for an end to settlement activities. Israel has disputed the ruling, questioning its binding status and criticizing it as politically biased. The ruling highlights longstanding legal and security tensions in the region.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel's presence in Palestinian territories is unlawful, urging an immediate end to settlement constructions and existing settlements. Israel has requested a clarification on whether this opinion is 'advisory' or 'legally binding' and called the court's opinion fundamentally flawed.

Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Israel rejects the ICJ's opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, criticizing it for intertwining politics with law and ignoring crucial security concerns. He argued that the opinion fails to consider recent violent attacks and the necessity for Israel to defend its territory.

The ICJ's ruling has been labeled 'one-sided' by Israel, with claims it disregards historical context and current realities. The court highlighted several Israeli policies as violations of international law, while Israel maintains that peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations, not international tribunals.

(With inputs from agencies.)