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UN Team: New Israel Barrier Violates Int’l Law

HeadlineAug 05, 2005

A team of experts from the United Nations Human Rights Commission said Thursday that the massive barrier Israel is building to seal off the West Bank is a violation of Israel’s human rights obligations. The eight rights experts called on Israel “to stop construction of the wall” and to pay compensation to Palestinians for damage caused by work on the barrier — a series of fences, walls, watchtowers and trenches along the West Bank. Israel also plans to install remote controlled weapons systems as well. The UN team said in a statement, “The wall violates important norms of international humanitarian law prohibiting the annexation of occupied territory, the establishment of settlements, the confiscation of private land and the forcible transfer of people.” The UN statement also reminded the international community that “they are under an obligation not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation.”

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