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UK Seeking to Block ICJ Ruling on Israel

(Guardian-UK) Bethan McKernan - The UK submitted a 43-page "amicus brief" to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month as part of the ICJ's fact-finding stage before an expected advisory opinion from the court on the "legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel" in the territories. The UK opposes the hearing of the case in the ICJ altogether. The UK, along with Israel and Western states such as the U.S. and Germany, voted against it on the grounds it would push the parties away from negotiations. The UK opinion submitted to the ICJ rests on four main arguments: An advisory opinion would effectively settle Israel's "bilateral dispute" without the state's consent. The court is not equipped to examine a "broad range of complex factual issues concerning the entire history of the parties' dispute." An advisory opinion would conflict with existing agreements between the parties and negotiation frameworks endorsed by the UN. The request is not appropriate as it asks the court to "assume unlawful conduct on the part of Israel."
2023-08-28 00:00:00
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