Israel could face international sanctions over the separation wall

TEL AVIV, August 20 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Israel Friday, August 20, was dealt a heavy double blow over its ignorance of the world's highest legal authority's ruling against its separation barrier and its expansionist policies in the West Bank settlements.

At home, Israeli attorney general warned the government it could face possible international sanctions over its controversial separation wall.

And in a rare show of criticism, the United States expressed dissatisfaction over Israel 's decision to build new housing units in West Bank settlements.

"It is difficult to overestimate the negative ramifications that the ICJ's decision will have on the State of Israel in various spheres, even on issues beyond the separation fence," Mazuz wrote in a note to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, according to Israeli daily Ha'aretz Friday.

"The decision creates a legal reality for Israel in the international arena, which could serve as an excuse and a catalyst for activity against Israel in international forums, to the point of sanctions," he added.

The warning coincided with a report delivered Thursday, August 19, by Mazuz to Sharon, who requested a month ago that the attorney general set up a committee to look into the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) decision on Israel 's separation wall.

The attorney general said Sharon has to issue a decision on modifying the route of the separation wall for sending a message to the whole world Israel is complying with the international law.

"Such a decision will deliver the message that Israel is implementing international law in the building of the barrier according to rulings of its own court," Mazuz said.

The Hague-based International Court of Justice, the tope UN legal body, issued a ruling demanding Israel to dismantle the barrier and pay reparations for damages caused during construction.

For its part, the Israeli High Court of Justice Thursday gave the Israeli government 30 days to explain the implications of the ICJ decision on Israel 's policy with regard to the fence.

"At some stage, we will have to deal with the ruling of the ICJ at The Hague . Perhaps not in this case, although it appears this is an appropriate one," said the Supreme Court President Aharon Barak.

"The ICJ regards East Jerusalem as occupied territory," Barak said.  "While we do not. The relevant approach should be toward the villages and not Jerusalem . But we will have to say something on the subject... and to announce whether or not we accept the opinion of the ICJ."

US Rebuke

"We believe that the Israelis should live up to their obligations under the roadmap," Rice said

Meanwhile, the US administration expressed dissatisfaction over the Israeli decisions to build more housing units in four of the largest settlements in the West Bank .

"We believe that the Israelis should live up to their obligations under the roadmap ...  And we've been very clear that settlement expansion is not consistent with our understanding under the roadmap," Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as saying.

Sharon had earlier approved the construction of 1001 housing units in four of the largest settlement in the West Bank .

According to the internationally-backed roadmap plan, Israel is obliged to halt all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories where around 245,000 Israeli settlers live.