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A day after vetoing requires a right away cease-fire in Gaza, the US on Wednesday defended Israel’s decades-long occupation of the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem, arguing on the United Nations’ highest courtroom that Israel confronted “very actual safety wants.”
The newest U.S. protection of Israel on the worldwide stage got here on the Worldwide Court docket of Justice in The Hague, the place Richard C. Visek, the appearing authorized adviser on the U.S. State Division, urged a 15-judge panel to not name for Israel’s fast withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territory. He mentioned that solely the institution of an impartial Palestinian state alongside Israel may result in lasting peace, repeating a longstanding U.S. place however one whose prospects seem much more elusive amid the battle in Gaza.
The courtroom is listening to six days of arguments over the legality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian-majority territories, together with the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem, which has been the topic of years of debates and resolutions on the United Nations. The hearings — involving greater than 50 nations — had been referred to as lengthy earlier than Israel went to battle in opposition to Hamas in Gaza, however have turn out to be a part of a concerted world effort to cease the battle and study the legality of Israel’s insurance policies towards Palestinians.
Israel has mentioned it might not take part within the hearings, and despatched a letter to the courtroom final 12 months arguing that the main target of the proceedings did not “acknowledge Israel’s proper and obligation to guard its residents” or its proper to safety.
The USA has strongly defended Israel through the battle, together with on Tuesday, when it forged the lone veto in opposition to a U.N. Safety Council decision that referred to as for a right away cease-fire, saying it might disrupt efforts to free hostages held in Gaza.
On Wednesday, Mr. Visek requested the courtroom to uphold the “established framework” for peace that he mentioned U.N. our bodies have agreed to — one that’s contingent on a “broader finish to belligerence” in opposition to Israel — reasonably than heed calls by different nations for Israel’s “unilateral and unconditional withdrawal” from occupied territories.
The Oct. 7 Hamas-led assaults on Israel had been a reminder of the threats going through the nation and of its safety wants, Mr. Visek mentioned, “and so they persist.”
“Regrettably, these wants have been ignored by lots of the contributors in asserting how the courtroom ought to contemplate the questions earlier than it,” he mentioned, referring to others nations’ testimony within the hearings.
The courtroom, which usually hears staid disputes amongst nations, has currently turn out to be a venue for nations to oppose Israel. Final month, South Africa argued on the courtroom that Israel was committing genocide in opposition to Palestinians in Gaza — a cost Israel strongly rejected. The judges haven’t dominated on that declare, however issued an interim order for Israel to take steps to forestall genocide in Gaza.
On Tuesday, South Africa forcefully condemned Israel’s insurance policies in opposition to Palestinians, calling them “a extra excessive type of apartheid,” the race-based system of legal guidelines that disadvantaged Black South Africans for many years.
Israel has lengthy rejected accusations that it operates an apartheid system, calling such allegations a slur and pointing to what it says is a historical past of being singled out for condemnation by U.N. our bodies and tribunals.
The USA has remained Israel’s staunchest defender internationally. However the Biden administration, underneath rising stress from components of the Democratic Social gathering, has additionally proven indicators of impatience with Israel’s conduct of the battle, the rising toll in Gaza and the plight of Palestinians underneath Israeli occupation.
President Biden this month mentioned that Israel’s army response in Gaza — which started after Hamas’s Oct. 7 assaults — had been “excessive” and that the immense civilian struggling had “bought to cease.” The remarks got here days after Mr. Biden imposed broad monetary sanctions in opposition to 4 Israeli males over violent assaults in opposition to Palestinians within the West Financial institution.
After the hearings, that are scheduled to conclude on Monday, the courtroom will give an advisory opinion, a choice that’s anticipated to take a number of months. The opinion can be nonbinding.
Cassandra Vinograd contributed reporting.
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