The World Court on Friday declared in a wide-ranging historic opinion that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is “unlawful” and said it should leave the area “rapidly”.
The Hague-based International Court of Justice, as it is formally known, said in its advisory opinion that all countries are “under an obligation” to not recognise Israel’s take-over of the territories seized in the 1967 Six Day War and should not help it maintain the occupation.
This amounts to an endorsement of the recognition of Palestine by 145 of the 193 members of the UN element and gives an impetus for others to follow suit.