(Jerusalem Post) Liron A. Libman - The peace treaty between Israel and Egypt allows the review and amendment of the security arrangements by mutual agreement. Egypt can reasonably argue that the security circumstances in Sinai have changed due to the establishment and strengthening of terrorist strongholds by local and foreign organizations. International law determines that even a fundamental change of circumstances which has occurred with regard to those existing at the time of the conclusion of a treaty, and which was not foreseen by the parties, may not be invoked as a ground for terminating or withdrawing from the treaty, unless some exceptional conditions were fulfilled. In any case, international law specifically states that such a cause cannot be grounds to terminate a treaty that establishes a boundary. Egypt cannot hold the territorial gains achieved in the peace treaty while shaking off its obligations under it. The writer, an IDF colonel (res.) and an attorney, is a former head of the IDF's International Law Department.
2012-08-31 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive