Belize Backs ICJ Ruling on Israel’s Occupation of Palestine

The Government of Belize is supporting the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ’s) ruling on Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Last week the ICJ ruled that Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem amounted to a breach of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The court also said that Israel must end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible and provide full reparation for the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs applauded the court’s decision and noted that Belize is a signatory to the convention. The Ministry issued a statement that notes that the court’s ruling affirms all the principles Belize has put forward in previous submissions. The ministry pledged that Belize will quote, “do all that it is required to do by this Advisory Opinion of the ICJ through action at the United Nations and otherwise, considering that the Opinion reaffirms principles that are essential for Belize’s existence, including the right to self-determination and territorial integrity, the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force and the elimination of all forms of racism and discrimination,” end of quote.