Ruling that settlement policy violates international law, ICJ raps Israel for failing to prevent settler violence

The ICJ rules in its decision on the legality of Israeli rule in the Palestinian territories that its settlement policy violates international law.

“The nature of Israel’s acts, including that Israel frequently confiscates land following the demolition of Palestinian property for reallocation to Israeli settlements indicates that its measures are not temporary in character and therefore cannot be considered as permissible under the Fourth Geneva Convention,” the court finds.

The court also says that violence by settlers against Palestinians, and Israel’s “failure to prevent and punish it effectively,” contributes to a “coercive environment against Palestinians.”

“In light of the above, the court affirms that Israeli settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem and the regime associated with them have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law,” the court finds.