09 July 2004

by Anai Rhoads

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Veriana Media - The United Nations announced Friday that Israel's 425 mile wall designed to keep Palestinians out must be torn down. This ruling is voluntary, but Palestine and its neighbouring states plan to put pressure on the U.N. to enforce it.

Israel had argued the barrier prevented terrorists from entering the country, but the court was unsympathetic, calling the dividing wall "illegal".

The Court also asked Israel to compensate all 200,000 Palestinians who were personally affected by the wall's presence, return all stolen goods and property to the people, as well as help create a Palestinian state.

"Our nation is rightly discussing with Israel the exact route of the fence to minimise the hardship it causes Palestinians. And Israel's own Supreme Court has looked at the very same issues and we should respect that process," responded John Kerry.

The International Court of Justice's panel of 15 judges supported most measures against Israel by a vote of 14-1. The American judge was the only one who sided with Israeli government.

Both The Bush administration and John Kerry were strongly opposed to this advisory.

"I am deeply disappointed by today's International Court of Justice ruling related to Israel's security fence," Kerry said.

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