ICJ: Israeli occupation presence in Palestine is unlawful

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Friday that the Israeli occupation's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is "unlawful" and that it should come to an end "as rapidly as possible". This came in an advisory opinion issued by the ICJ with respect to the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of the Israeli occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Based in The Hague, the ICJ said the Israeli occupation should put an end to its unlawful presence in Palestine as soon as possible, halt all new settlement activities immediately, and, thence, deport all settlers from occupied Palestinian territories. The court added that the Israeli occupation's obligations include paying restitution for harm and "the evacuation of all settlers from existing settlements". It, further, called on all countries not to recognize the unlawful status arising from the occupation of Palestinian territories. Source: Kuwait News Agency