THE HAGUE, Netherlands (NEWSnet/AP) — United Nations' highest court opens hearings Monday into the legality of Israel's 57-year occupation of land sought for a Palestinian state.
Six days of hearings are scheduled at International Court of Justice.
Although the case occurs against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, it focuses on Israel's open-ended occupation of West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.
Palestinian representatives, who speak first on Monday, will argue the Israeli occupation is illegal because it has violated three tenets of international law, a Palestinian legal team says.
They say Israel has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest by annexing large swaths of occupied land, violated the Palestinians' right to self-determination, and imposed a system of racial discrimination and apartheid.
“We want to hear new words from the court," said Omar Awadallah, head of U.N.'s organizations department in Palestinian Foreign Ministry.
Awadallah said an advisory opinion from the court "will give us many tools, using peaceful international law methods and tools, to confront the illegalities of the occupation.”
It may take several months for the court to issue a ruling. Experts say the decision, although not legally binding, could have profound impact on international jurisprudence and aid to Israel.
Israel officials are not scheduled to speak during the hearings, but could submit a written statement.
After Palestine presents arguments, 51 countries and three organizations — League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and African Union, will address the panel of judges.
Israel captured West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state. Israel considers West Bank to be disputed territory, whose status should be determined through negotiation.
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