ALBAWABA - On Wednesday, the US informed the UN's highest court that Israel shouldn't be legally compelled to leave occupied Palestinian territory in the absence of security assurances.
Richard Vesik, the US delegate, underlined during the session that Israel should not be required by the International Court of Justice to leave the occupied areas quickly and unconditionally.
Vesik emphasized that Israel's legitimate security concerns must be taken into account in any hypothetical Israeli pullout from the West Bank and Gaza.
His comments were made at open hearings that were called by a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly that sought the International Court of Justice's non-binding advisory opinion regarding the legal ramifications of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
Judges have been asked by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki to demand an immediate and unconditional end to the occupation.
The majority of speakers have called for Israel to withdraw from its occupation, which began following a six-day Arab-Israeli conflict in 1967, but Washington supported its friend at the court.
US State Department legal advisor Richard Visek stated, "The court should not find that Israel is legally obligated to withdraw from occupied territory immediately and unconditionally."
"Any movement towards Israel withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza requires consideration of Israel's very real security needs," he said.
The United States has supported Israel in court, despite calls from most other countries for Israel to terminate its occupation.
Due to its protracted military campaign in Gaza, Israel is coming under increasing legal pressure from around the world. This is the first time the ICJ has been called upon to hear a case including allegations of genocide against Palestinians.
In January of last year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must implement temporary measures to safeguard Palestinians in Gaza until a final determination is made. The court also ordered Israel to adhere to the Genocide Convention.
