GAZA, July 9 (UPI) -- The International Court of Justice -- which ruled in favor of the Palestinians Friday and called on Israel to stop constructing a security barrier in the West Bank -- has given the Palestinians renewed hope.
The ICJ ruled that the barrier was in breach of international law. In its advisory opinion, the court said Israel should tear it down and compensate Palestinians harmed by its construction.
"Considering the wall by the International Court of Justice illegal and counter to international law ... proves that the military occupation also contravenes this law," Adli Sadeq, a Palestinian analyst told United Press International.
He said that the ruling of the international court in The Hague would make the Israeli government think twice before continuing the construction of the wall.
Israel, however, said it does not recognize the court's decision and it is non-binding.
Many Palestinians, especially those who live villages and towns affected by the barrier, as well as those who found themselves cut off from their lands, said they felt less depressed after the ruling was announced.
"The decision of the court is giving the Palestinians a new will to resist the apartheid wall," said Fadel Hassan, a Palestinian from a village near Ramallah.
Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said that the Hague's Court decision is "a slap on Israel's face."
"The court's decision is historic, a real victory and a slap on the face of those fanatics who insist to build the apartheid wall for security excuses," Qureia told reporters after the president of the International Court of Justice read the ruling.
"We have always said the apartheid separation wall was illegal and contravenes the law and no one listened to us, but now the International Court of Justice is making this historic decision," said Qureia.
Describing the ruling at a news conference in Ramallah, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said that the International Court of Justice decision was a "real victory."
Arafat said it was "a good decision, and the voice of right and law," adding that he had called for an urgent meeting for the Palestinian leadership to discuss the outcome of the decision.
"The decision is a real victory for the Palestinian people, for all liberal nations, for the world's freedom movements, for the international resolutions and for the sake of making just, everlasting and comprehensive peace," he said.
He said that from "the very first moment as we decided to go to The Hague, we were confident that we were right and they (Israelis) wrong."
However, on the ground, the Hague's ruling will not change anything.
In the ruling, the court said that Israel's security needs did not merit the construction of the barrier, stating that it "cannot be justified by military exigencies or by the requirements of national security or public order."
At the Palestinians' request, the U.N. General Assembly asked the ICJ last December for its opinion on the legality of the barrier.
In its advisory opinion, the court said that the barrier would be tantamount to annexation of Palestinian land if it is completed and that it impeded the Palestinian's right to self-rule.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, an adviser to Arafat, said that the Palestinian Authority would ask the United Nations Security Council to adopt the ICJ ruling made Friday in The Hague.
He told reporters in Ramallah that if the United States vetoes the resolution at the Security Council, the Palestinian Authority would call for a General Assembly meeting of the United Nations to adopt the court's decision.
General Assembly resolutions do not carry the same political weight as those enacted by the Security Council.
"The decision of the International Court of Justice is a message to the United States and (Israel) ... and will bring the latter into an international diplomatic isolation," said Abu Rudeineh.
Fathi Khdeirat, an activist in a popular committee opposing the barrier, told United Press International that ICJ's ruling would help "wake up the world's conscience to support all our legal issues, especially tearing down the apartheid wall."
Hamas hailed ICJ's ruling and said in a communiqué "this proves that Israel is just a renegade entity that violates all international laws and resolutions."
