Dear government: ICJ ruling

Today I send the following message about Friday’s (July 19) ruling by the International Court of Justice on the “Legal Consequences Arising From The Policies And Practices Of Israel In The Occupied Palestinian Territory” to my Representative, Senators, and to President Biden.

Dear Representative,

As you know, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed on July 19 in it’s ruling that Israel must immediately end it’s occupation of Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. This includes ending the siege of Gaza, which our government must also immediately stop supporting.

The full ruling, summarized in Ha’aretz, a leading Israeli newspaper, says that:

• Israel’s ongoing presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is deemed illegal.
• Israel must end its presence in the occupied territories as soon as possible.
• Israel should immediately cease settlement expansion and evacuate all settlers from the occupied areas.
• Israel is required to make reparations for the damage caused to the local and lawful population in the Palestinian territories.
• The international community and organizations have a duty not to recognize the Israeli presence in the territories as legal and to avoid supporting its maintenance.
• The UN should consider what actions are necessary to end the Israeli presence in the territories as soon as possible.

As your constituent, I ask that you take action now to support the ICJ ruling, and work with your colleagues to enforce this sensible injunction from the Court. Ending the Israeli occupation will help move us toward the necessary peace in the Middle East, and help Israel flourish as a democracy.

___________________

There’s a lot missing – intentionally. The ICJ ruling is non-binding, but it’s directed at part at other UN bodies with a strong moral push behind it. These are the finding, and they can’t be avoided in the UN General Assembly or Security Council.

It’s important to keep message to representatives short, and ask them to take some action. Write to your Representatives.