ICJ declares Israel settlements in the West Bank illegal

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has, for the first time, responded to Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank and the occupation of Palestinian territories, issuing a “non-binding” ruling that urges Tel Aviv to stop seizing Palestinian lands.

In a statement released on Friday, July 20, the ICJ declared Israel’s decades-long efforts to seize Palestinian lands, construct and expand Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and permanently annexe and control...