Israel’s policies amount to annexation of large parts of Palestinian territories – World Court

The ICJ also finds that Israel has annexed large parts of the West Bank, which it says violates international law and the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force.

“Israel’s extension of its domestic law to the West Bank, notably to the settlements and over settlers, as well as its assumption of broad regulatory powers by virtue of the prolonger character of the occupation, entrenches its control of the occupied territory,” the court finds.

“The court comes to the conclusion that Israel’s policies and practices, including maintenance and expansion of settlements, the construction of associated infrastructure and the [security] wall, the exploitation of natural resources, the proclamation of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the comprehensive application of Israeli domestic law in East Jerusalem and its extensive application in the West Bank, entrench Israeli control of the occupied Palestinians territories, notably of East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank,” it continues.

These practices are designed to remain in place indefinitely and to create irreversible effects on the ground, it maintains.

“Consequently, the court considers that these policies amount to annexation of large parts of occupied Palestinian territory.”

“To seek to acquire sovereignty over occupied territory as shown by Israeli policies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is contrary to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations and the non-acquisition of territory by force.”