In public proceedings before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Saudi Ambassador Fawzi bin Abdulmajeed Shobokshi, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said that the wall under construction by Israel in the West Bank is in breach of international law and an act of provocation.
Shobokshi told the gathering that the Kingdom supports the International Court of Justice issuing an advisory opinion on Israel’s plan to construct a separation wall in the occupied territories. He said that the Kingdom rejects the argument that the Court’s advisory opinion on the wall is at cross-purposes to negotiations aimed at bringing about peace in the Middle East. Rather, the Court’s legal opinion would contribute to the eradication of terrorism and achievement of a just, enduring peace in the region, the Ambassador said. He added that Israel has been continually seeking to strengthen its position territorially, to the detriment of peace initiatives, ever since 1967, of which the separation wall is the latest outstanding manifestation. The Kingdom warned that the separation wall precludes the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state, denies the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people, and exacerbates hatred that leads to increased violence in the region.
On the fear of terrorism as a pretext for constructing the wall, the Kingdom reiterated its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, expressing its commitment to combat terrorists. It stressed the importance of addressing the motivation and provocation that lead to terrorism. The international efforts to combat terrorism will not eradicate the phenomenon without addressing its roots, Shobokshi said.
The proceedings also highlighted the Kingdom’s stance and interests in the success of the Road Map to peace, which refers specifically to the initiative of Crown Prince Abdullah, endorsed by the Beirut Summit in March 2002.
The Kingdom reiterated it rejection of the argument that the advisory opinion of the Court would create legal ramifications that would be at cross-purposes to the Road Map, adversely affecting the peace process, and that the Court should refrain from giving its opinion on the issue.
Source: SPA
