Archiv: 30-12-2022 UN General Assembly requesting advisory opinion from World Court (ICJ) on Israeli state practices in ocupied Palestine / hearings 19-26 Feb 2024 / ruling 19-07-2024 / occupation is illegal


31.10.2024 - 12:41 [ News.az ]

Rapporteur calls for suspension of Israel‘s UN membership

„I do believe that the impunity that has been granted to Israel has allowed it to become a serial violator of international law,“ Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, said at a news conference.

Albanese said she recommends that the General Assembly consider the suspension of Israel‘s credential as a member of the UN until it ends violating international laws and withdraws the occupation, which she said is „clearly unlawful.“

(…)

„The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to withdraw, unconditionally, totally, rapidly as possible its military presence, dismantling the colonies, stopping the seizing the exploitation of natural resources on the occupied Palestinian territory and making also reparations,“ Albanese added.

27.09.2024 - 17:38 [ UN Web TV ]

President of the State of Palestine Abbas addresses United Nations

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, stressing that the Palestinian people will not leave their homeland – the land of their ancestors.

27.09.2024 - 17:30 [ United Nations ]

Abbas dismisses ‘Israeli lies’, tells world leaders entire generations being wiped out in Gaza

He also called for international protection for Palestinians in the occupied territories, stating, “we cannot fight Israel, and we don’t want to fight, we want protection,” he said, adding that the State of Palestine must assume responsibility in Gaza and exercise jurisdiction over the region, including control of border checkpoints.

“This is our proposal to you, you can accept it, amend it or change it, we are ready for all that.”

Concluding his address, Mr. Abbas said that “while we recognize the State of Israel, Israel does not recognize us”.

“We want a solution that will protect both countries – the State of Palestine and the State of Israel – so they can co-exist in peace, stability and security.”

18.09.2024 - 00:10 [ digitallibrary.UN.org ]

United Nations General Assembly A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1: Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

1. Welcomes the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024 on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

2. Demands that Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which constitutes a wrongful act of a continuing character entailing its international responsibility, and do so no later than 12 months from the adoption of the present resolution;

3. Demands that Israel comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including as stipulated by the International Court of Justice, by, inter alia:

(a) Withdrawing all its military forces from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including its airspace and maritime space;

(b) Putting an end to its unlawful policies and practices, including ceasing immediately all new settlement activity, evacuating all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and dismantling the parts of the wall constructed by Israel that are situated in the Territory, and repealing all legislation and measures creating or maintaining the unlawful situation, including those which discriminate against the Palestinian people, as well as all measures aimed at modifying the demographic composition, character and status of any parts of the Territory, including all measures violating the historic status quo at the holy sites of Jerusalem;

(c) Returning the land and other immovable property, as well as all assets seized from any natural or legal person since its occupation started in 1967, and all cultural property and assets taken from Palestinians and Palestinian institutions;

(d) Allowing all Palestinians displaced during the occupation to return to their original place of residence;

(e) Making reparation for the damage caused to all the natural and legal persons concerned in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

(f) Immediately complying with obligations under international law indicated in the respective provisional measures orders of the International Court of Justice in the case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide7 (South Africa v. Israel) in relation to the right of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip to be protected from all acts within the scope of articles II and III of the Convention;

(g) Not impeding the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, over the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

16.09.2024 - 12:57 [ Middle East Eye ]

Israel‘s Lapid to meet top US administration officials in Washington

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid is set to meet with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during his visit to the country on Monday, his office said in a statement.

16.09.2024 - 12:34 [ IsraelHayom.com ]

Israel‘s drastic plan if Palestinians win at UN

(September 12, 2024)

The anti-Israel crescendo is set for Wednesday: a vote on the Palestinian resolution, widely expected to pass by a comfortable margin. With no veto power in such General Assembly votes, Israel faces an uphill battle. These moves directly follow efforts to bolster the Palestinian Authority‘s UN standing in May. Now, as a complementary step, they aim to further erode Israel‘s global standing.

16.09.2024 - 12:25 [ Jerusalem Post ]

Benjamin Netanyahu to attend UN General Assembly – statement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend the United Nations General Assembly this month, his office said on Sunday.

13.09.2024 - 15:00 [ Reuters ]

UN likely to vote next week on push to end Israel presence in Palestinian territory

(September 9,2024)

The United Nations General Assembly is likely to vote next week on a Palestinian draft resolution demanding Israel end „its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory“ within six months.
The key aim of the draft resolution, written by the Palestinian Authority and seen by Reuters, is to welcome a July advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that said Israel‘s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and should be withdrawn.

13.09.2024 - 14:47 [ Jerusalem Post ]

The Palestinian Authority‘s diplomatic war continues – editorial

Ever since then-PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, infamously carrying a pistol, spoke at the UN in 1974, the Palestinian situation has not significantly changed. In fact, as the situation in Gaza attests, it has only gotten worse – despite the PA winning vote after vote in the UN General Assembly.

If the Palestinians had spent the same energy over the past half-century building up the areas under their control in the West Bank and Gaza rather than demonizing Israel on the world stage, their situation today would be markedly different and much better.

12.09.2024 - 20:15 [ Middle East Monitor ]

Palestine to seek end to ‘unlawful’ Israel occupation within 12 months at UN

Palestine’s permanent mission to the UN is expected to present a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly next week demanding Israel to end its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories within 12 months, according to a document obtained by Anadolu on Thursday.

12.09.2024 - 20:08 [ Palestinian News and Information Agency – WAFA.ps ]

State of Palestine takes a seat in the UN General Assembly

This significant moment follows a decision by the General Assembly in May, where a majority of members voted in favor of granting Palestine full membership rights. This resolution came after the United States used its veto power in the Security Council to block Palestine‘s bid for full UN membership. (…)

To be granted full UN membership, a state must receive a two-thirds majority vote from the General Assembly following a positive recommendation from the Security Council.

The U.S. vetoed this recommendation on April 18, preventing Palestine from achieving full membership.

09.09.2024 - 15:41 [ International Court of Justice ]

LEGAL CONSEQUENCES ARISING FROM THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF ISRAEL IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, INCLUDING EAST JERUSALEM

(July 19, 2024)

278. Taking note of the resolutions of the Security Council and General Assembly, the Court is of the view that Member States are under an obligation not to recognize any changes in the physical character or demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the territory occupied by Israel on 5 June 1967, including East Jerusalem, except as agreed by the parties through negotiations and to distinguish in their dealings with Israel between the territory of the State of Israel and the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. The Court considers that the duty of distinguishing dealings with Israel between its own territory and the Occupied Palestinian Territory encompasses, inter alia, the obligation to abstain from treaty relations with Israel in all cases in which it purports to act on behalf of the Occupied Palestinian Territory or a part thereof on matters concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or a part of its territory; to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory; to abstain, in the establishment and maintenance of diplomatic missions in Israel, from any recognition of its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (see Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1971, pp. 55-56, paras. 122, 125-127).

(…)

281. Finally, the Court is of the view that the precise modalities to bring to an end Israel’s
unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a matter to be dealt with by the General Assembly, which requested this opinion, as well as the Security Council. Therefore, it is for the General Assembly and the Security Council to consider what further action is required to put an end to the illegal presence of Israel, taking into account the present Advisory Opinion.

09.09.2024 - 15:32 [ Nigerian Tribune ]

Group seeks enforcement of ICJ ruling on Israel/Palestine crisis

(September 1, 2024)

An Islamic organization, Aqsah Nigeria, has called on world leaders, especially African governments, to take decisive action in enforcing the July 19th, 2024 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which declared Israel’s war on Palestinian territories unlawful.

The organization also urged mass mobilization and continuous public awareness to uphold this “landmark judgment” in hopes of ending the ongoing killing of women and children and the displacement of Palestinians by Israeli forces.

27.02.2024 - 03:00 [ International Court of Justice ]

Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Request for Advisory Opinion) Conclusion of the public hearings held from 19 to 26 February 2024

THE HAGUE, 26 February 2024. The public hearings on the request for an advisory opinion in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, concluded today.

During the hearings, the State of Palestine, 49 Member States of the United Nations and three international organizations presented oral statements (in the following order): Palestine,
South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Russian Federation, France, The Gambia, Guyana, Hungary, China, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, Zambia, League of Arab States, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, African Union, Spain, Fiji and the Maldives.

The verbatim records of the hearings, including the lists of participating delegations, are
available on the case page on the Court’s website. High-resolution video clips and still photos produced by the Registry during the hearings are available free of charge and free of copyright for editorial, non-commercial use, on the Multimedia page on the Court’s website.

The Court will now begin its deliberation.

The Court’s advisory opinion will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be
announced in due course.

27.02.2024 - 02:30 [ International Court of Justice ]

Public sitting held on Monday 26 February 2024, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace

60. In view of the foregoing arguments and recalling the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, the Republic of Türkiye respectfully calls upon the nternational Court of Justice to declare the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, illegal under international law. Israel must also respect the historical status quo in the holy places in Jerusalem.

(…)

The PRESIDENT: I thank the delegation of Zambia for its presentation. I invite the next participating delegation, the League of Arab States, to address the Court and I call Mr Abdel Hakim El Rifai to the podium.

Mr EL RIFAI:

1. Thank you, Mr President, honourable Members of the Court, it is a great honour and privilege to appear before you today, on behalf of the League of Arab States.

2. I would like to read a statement by His Excellency Mr Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

3. The League of Arab States attaches high importance to the present proceedings, hoping that they contribute to safeguarding the principles of international law, to uphold the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and end the last oppressive, expansionist, apartheid, settler-colonial occupation, still standing in the twenty-first century.

4. The persistence of this occupation, acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, crimes against humanity, displacement of populations, imprisonment of Palestinians behind illegal segregation walls, expansion of illegal settlements, creating new political realities on the ground aiming at complicating the dismantling of the occupation ⎯ all ⎯ will never discourage Palestinians from claiming their legitimate inalienable rights.

5. The insistence on placing Israel above the law, through the politicization of accountability and adopting double standards in the application of justice is a direct threat to international peace and stability.

6. Ending Israel’s total impunity, and subjecting it ⎯ like any other State ⎯ to the universal rules of international law, will help annul its pretexts to systematically reject peace initiatives, the most serious of which is the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, which offered full normalization of relations with all Arab States, in exchange of Israel only respecting its already established obligations, under the bodies of international law, human rights law, and the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.

27.02.2024 - 02:20 [ International Court of Justice ]

Public sitting held on Friday 23 February 2024, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace

President Salam presiding,

on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Request for advisory opinion submitted by the General Assembly of the United Nations)

27.02.2024 - 01:39 [ Reuters ]

Arab states, Turkey ask World Court to declare Israeli occupation illegal

Arab states urged international judges on Monday to rule the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and Turkey described the occupation as „the real obstacle to peace“ on the final day of hearings in a case examining its legal status.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been hearing arguments from more than 50 states following a request by the U.N. General Assembly in 2022 to issue a non-binding opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation.

24.02.2024 - 05:12 [ Consortium News ]

US Defends Israeli Occupation at World Court

Among nations participating in the ICJ proceedings on Israel’s occupation, only the U.S. and Fiji are urging the court not to issue an opinion that declares the nearly six-decade occupation of Palestinian territory illegal.

22.02.2024 - 19:25 [ International Court of Justice ]

Public sitting held on Thursday 22 February 2024, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace

President Salam presiding,

on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Request for advisory opinion submitted by the General Assembly of the United Nations)

22.02.2024 - 19:15 [ International Court of Justice ]

Public sitting held on Wesdnesday 21 February 2024, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace,

President Salam presiding,
on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Request for advisory opinion submitted by the General Assembly of the United Nations)

22.02.2024 - 19:07 [ International Court of Justice ]

Public sitting held on Tuesday 20 February 2024, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace

President Salam presiding,
on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
(Request for advisory opinion submitted by the General Assembly of the United Nations)

22.02.2024 - 19:02 [ Suedostschweiz.ch ]

Vor UN-Gericht: Palästinenser fordern Gerechtigkeit

(19.02.2024)

Zum Auftakt der Anhörung zur Rechtmässigkeit von fast 60 Jahren israelischer Besatzung der palästinensischen Gebiete beim Internationalen Gerichtshof hat der Aussenminister der Autonomiebehörde Gerechtigkeit für sein Volk gefordert.

22.02.2024 - 07:20 [ International Court of Justice ]

Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem – Public hearings

Monday 19 February 2024 – Monday 26 February 2024

21.02.2024 - 14:58 [ WHEC.com ]

UN top court shouldn’t urge Israel to immediately withdraw from Palestinian-claimed lands, US says

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United States said Wednesday the United Nations’ top court should not issue an advisory opinion that says Israel should “immediately and unconditionally withdraw” from territories sought for a Palestinian state.

Acting State Department legal adviser Richard Visek said the 15-judge panel at the International Court of Justice should not seek to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict “through an advisory opinion addressed to questions focusing on the acts of only one party.”

21.02.2024 - 14:44 [ Washington Post ]

ICJ hearings on Israel’s occupation: What to know

The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is holding the third day of hearings Wednesday on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices “in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Dozens of countries are expected to present oral arguments during the hearings, which span six days and deal with questions of Israeli control over the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. While the proceedings are not directly about the war in Gaza, they could intensify pressure on Israel over its military campaign there.

20.02.2024 - 16:37 [ Middle East Eye ]

Israel treats Palestinians as ‘disposable objects’: Saudi Arabia tells ICJ

– The Kingdom expresses its profound revulsion for the killing of civilians in Gaza and Israel’s protracted impunity
– Israel’s argument that it has a right to self-defence distorts reality. Depriving the Palestinian population of all means of survival is not justified under any circumstances

20.02.2024 - 16:32 [ Al Jazeera ]

Live: ICJ hearings on Israel’s occupation of Palestine continue, day 2

More than 50 states and at least three international organisations will address judges at the United Nations’ top court until February 26. A nonbinding legal opinion is expected after months of deliberation by the judges.

20.02.2024 - 10:50 [ UN Web TV ]

THE HAGUE – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the advisory proceedings – South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Belgium

Summary

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the advisory proceedings on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

Description

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, holds public hearings on the request for an advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, from 19 to 26 February 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court. Session held under the presidency of Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the Court.

20.02.2024 - 10:44 [ Molly Quell, International law for @CourthouseNews / Twitter ]

Back today at the International Court of Justice today for day two of the Palestinian advisory opinion.

Here‘s my thread from yesterday:

20.02.2024 - 10:30 [ International Court of Justice ]

Public sitting held on Monday 19 February 2024, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace

33. The only State besides Fiji to defend Israel is the United States. This is not surprising. Whatever offences against international law Israel commits, the United States comes forward to shield it from accountability. Here, the United States attempts to defend Israel, not by arguing that the occupation is lawful, but that it is neither lawful nor unlawful. To reach this conclusion, the United States argues that belligerent occupation is governed exclusively by international humanitarian law and not by the United Nations Charter or general international law. In its own words: “Although international humanitarian law imposes obligations on belligerents in their conduct of an occupation, it does not provide for the legal status of an occupation to be lawful or unlawful.“

20.02.2024 - 10:25 [ Molly Quell, International law for @CourthouseNews / Twitter ]

Reichler says that only Fiji and the US have argued in favour of the occupation.

WHICH WE COULD KNOW FOR OURSELVES IF WE HAD THE WRITTEN STATEMENTS.

20.02.2024 - 08:28 [ Middle East Eye ]

Explained: ICJ begins historic hearings on Israel‘s occupation of Palestine

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague began hearing submissions on Monday on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.

Separate to the more well-publicised genocide case brought by South Africa on Israel‘s attack on the Gaza Strip, the UN‘s highest court will hear from 52 countries and three international organisations on the legal consequences of Israel’s decades-long occupation. The hearings will contribute to an advisory opinion, an ICJ instrument that has no binding force but carries significant legal and moral authority.

The number of states participating in the oral proceedings is the highest in any case since the ICJ‘s establishment in 1945.

20.02.2024 - 08:14 [ Reuters ]

At World Court, Palestinians seek end to Israeli occupation

Palestinian representatives on Monday asked judges at the U.N.‘s highest court to declare Israel‘s occupation of their territory illegal, saying their advisory opinion could contribute to a two-state solution and a lasting peace.
The requests came at the opening of a week of hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The U.N. General Assembly sought an advisory, or non-binding, opinion on the occupation in 2022. More than 50 states will present arguments through Feb. 26.

19.02.2024 - 11:00 [ webtv.UN.org ]

THE HAGUE – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the advisory proceedings – State of Palestine

Summary

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the advisory proceedings on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

Description

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, holds public hearings on the request for an advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, from 19 to 26 February 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court. Session held under the presidency of Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the Court.

19.02.2024 - 10:10 [ Middle East Eye ]

ICJ to hear arguments on Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on Monday opens a week of hearings on the legal consequences of Israel‘s occupation of Palestinian territories, with more than 50 states due to address the judges.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki will speak first in the legal proceedings.

In 2022, the UN General Assembly asked the court for an advisory, or non-binding, opinion on the occupation.

16.02.2024 - 20:40 [ International Court of Justice ]

Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Request for Advisory Opinion) Public hearings to be held from Monday 19 to Monday 26 February 2024

On 30 December 2022, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted resolution
A/RES/77/247 in which, referring to Article 65 of the Statute of the Court, it requested the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion.

16.02.2024 - 20:25 [ Human Rights Watch ]

World Court to Review 57-Year Israeli Occupation

(The Hague) – An unprecedented number of countries and international organizations are expected to participate in the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) oral hearings on Israel’s occupation beginning February 19, 2024, Human Rights Watch said today. Fifty-two countries and three international organizations will participate in the oral proceedings, more than in any other case since the world’s highest court began functioning in 1946.

16.02.2024 - 20:20 [ Yahoo.com ]

World Court holds hearings on Israel‘s occupation of Palestinian territories

A record 52 states will present arguments about the legal consequences of Israel‘s occupation of the Palestinian territories at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the U.N.‘s highest legal body

19.01.2024 - 12:37 [ Regierung von Slowenien / Government of Slovenia ]

Minister Fajon: Slovenia one of the few EU Member States in the ICJ advisory opinion proceedings against Israel

(January 11, 2024)

Slovenia‘s position on the conflict in the Middle East is clear and has been expressed many times: “We strongly condemn the violence of both Hamas in Israel and of Israel in Gaza – civilians must not be targeted. We draw attention to the serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Gaza. Since 7 October 2023, 23 thousand Palestinians have been killed, 70% of them women and children. 1.9 million people have been displaced, representing almost 85 per cent of the total population. We also strongly condemn any intention to expel the Palestinian population from Gaza or the West Bank and to reduce the size of the Palestinian territory. Slovenia has consistently called for additional sanctions against Hamas and violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank, as well as for the establishment of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted humanitarian access and the early start of a two-state solution peace process, including international recognition of the State of Palestine, with the ultimate goal of peaceful and secure coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians,” added Minister Fajon.