Jordan Times
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Jordan slams barrier at ICJ
THE HAGUE (AFP) — Jordan told the world court here Tuesday that Israel's West Bank barrier amounted to a landgrab and could trigger an exodus of Palestinian refugees as clashes broke out at the start of work on a new tranche of the 700-kilometre- long structure.While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) began a second day of hearings here into the legality of the barrier, Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed to push on with construction regardless of any verdict.
"What is in motion at the Hague is an attempt to deny Israel the fundamental right to defend itself," Sharon told the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot.
"We will not surrender. I will build the security fence and will complete it, as the Cabinet decided."
Prince Zeid Raad, the head of Jordan's delegation at the ICJ, acknowledged Israel's right to defend itself against the "horrific" wave of suicide attacks which Sharon says the barrier is designed to prevent.
But it did not justify construction of the barrier on parts of the West Bank which were previously under Jordanian control until the 1967 Six Day War, he added.
"Much of the wall now being built by Israel is in territory that does not belong to Israel, but is in fact occupied territory," the Prince told the court.
Instead the barrier was "aimed at further assimilation of occupied territories into the state of Israel."
Amman argues the barrier threatens its national security and undermines the future creation of a Palestinian state as stipulated by the internationally-backed Middle East "roadmap" peace blueprint.
Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher told Parliament last month the barrier would revive the option of transferring Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan, despite Israeli assertions to the contrary.
"My country already hosts a huge number of refugees and displaced persons," said Prince Zeid.
"We are faced with the threat of a new wave of refugees as a result of the wall's construction."
The Israeli government is boycotting the hearings at the ICJ, arguing the case is beyond the court's competence and the odds had been stacked against the Jewish state.
It struck a defiant note Tuesday by starting work on 42 kilometres of the barrier in the northern West Bank village of Beit Surik.
Around 100 villagers tried to stop two Israeli bulldozers by lying down in front of them and clashes broke out between them and Israeli border police who used sound grenades and beat them with sticks as the bulldozers began levelling a field of olive trees.
Israel also sought to seize the initiative by staging its own mock court sitting designed to turn the tables on ICJ.
Among those giving "testimony" was Arnold Roth, whose 15-year-old daughter Malka was killed in an attack at a Jerusalem pizza parlour in 2001.
"I did not come to The Hague to be lectured by the representatives of people who send murderers into restaurants," said Roth.
"The fact that these death cult murderers are able to carry out their disgraceful, disgusting acts is what brings us all here."
The Palestinian delegation argued Monday that the barrier was not only illegal as it is being built on their land but also likely to lead to further attacks by increasing the sense of humiliation.
The alternative hearings, held at the old town hall, a stone's throw from the Peace Palace where the ICJ sits, ended with a symbolic declaration passed on an overwhelming show of hands that Israel "has an absolute right to defend itself" and to take "all appropriate terrorism prevention security measures."
The UN General Assembly called on the ICJ in December to rule on the legality of the barrier, although any verdict is merely advisery.
The barrier — a montage of razor wire, electronic fencing and concrete — is Israel's most expensive project ever at an estimated cost of $3.4 billion and should eventually stretch for more than 700 kilometres.