Palestinian territories: at the ICJ, Pretoria accuses Israel of carrying out an “even more extreme” form of apartheid
Israel's practices in the Palestinian territories are an “
even more extreme
” form of the apartheid that South Africa experienced before 1994, a South African representative declared on February 20, 2024 before the highest court of the UN. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), which sits in The Hague, is holding hearings this week on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967, with an unprecedented number of 52 countries called to testify.
Vusimuzi Madonsela, South Africa's ambassador to the Netherlands (right), speaking during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, in La The Hague, February 20, 2024. AFP - ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN
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With our correspondent in The Hague,
Stéphanie Maupas
Since February 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been debating the legality of the Israeli occupation. ICJ judges must issue a legal opinion on this issue, as requested by the UN General Assembly in December 2022.
Delegations from more than fifty states parade at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands) to defend their positions. This February 20, it is the turn of South Africa and Algeria.
“
Israel's practices in the Palestinian territories are an even more extreme form of the apartheid experienced by South Africa.
» The words are strong. They are signed today by the South African ambassador to the Netherlands. “
This apartheid must end
,” continued the South African ambassador.
An immediate, unconditional and total end
.” Pretoria believes that this apartheid is explicit and that a large part of the international community already recognizes it, as the NGOs Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have noted for several years.
An Algerian representative denounces “
impunity, the first law of oppressors
”
Facing the fifteen judges of the World Court, with South Africa's scarf around his neck, Vusimuzi Madonsela again affirmed that apartheid “
stems from the violation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinians
”. And, beyond the declarations demanding the end of the Israeli occupation system, South Africa tried to propose intermediate solutions: Pretoria recommended the creation of a special committee within the United Nations to monitor the territories similar to that in place at the time on South African apartheid.
Taking the floor in turn, Algeria also pleaded against the occupation policy. Professor Ahmed Laraba denounced “
impunity, the first law of oppressors
”.
Judges should submit their legal opinion within six months and this opinion is not obligatory. But since Monday morning, all the delegations heard at the Peace Palace hope that it will one day serve as a basis for future peace.
Read alsoInternational Justice: South Africa and Algeria speak before the ICJ about Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories
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