Ireland welcomes ICJ's advisory opinion on Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Ireland's foreign minister on Friday "very much" welcomed the advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that termed Israel's occupation of Palestine as "unlawful."

"While the Court’s Opinion is lengthy and complex, and will require more detailed consideration, it largely confirms the Government’s legal analysis ... that Israel’s settlement and related policies in the OPT amount to illegal annexation," Micheal Martin said in a statement.

Martin said Ireland’s core objective in making submissions in the case was to encourage the court to clarify the rights of the Palestinian people in international law.

"This is essential, both to counter increasing misinformation internationally on this point, as well as to ensure that these rights are fully respected in any future settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," he said.

He said "there can be no just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without respect for international law," and that is why the court's opinion has "fundamental importance."

On the court's determination to call the occupation of Israel as "unlawful" and further action required in this regard, the minister said: "I will be engaging with partners – in the EU, across the region, and more widely within the United Nations – to see how we can now bring to bear this authoritative opinion by the Court to end to Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT, and bring about the full realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination."

Martin reitrated Ireland's commitment to the two-state solution with "a safe and secure Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders, based on those of 1967, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states." Ireland, along with Spain and Norway, recognized Palestinian statehood in May.

The ICJ opinion, in response to a 2022 request by the UN General Assembly, said Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank is "unlawful" and should be brought to an end "as rapidly as possible."

It said Israel should cease new settlement activities, and “evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”