The top United Nations court has ruled that Israel’s settlement policy and use of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories violate international law.
The panel of 15 judges from around the world at the International Court of Justice said “the transfer by Israel of settlers to the West Bank and Jerusalem as well as Israel’s maintenance of their presence, is contrary to article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention”.
It also said the use of natural resources was “inconsistent” with its obligations under international law as an occupying power.
The court’s president, Nawaf Salam, was reading out the court’s full opinion in a Friday session, which is expected to take about an hour.