The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell

Brussels, July 21 (RHC)-- The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs has commended the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel.

Josep Borrell said on Saturday the advisory opinion aligns with the positions of the European Union and with United Nations resolutions regarding the status of the occupied Palestinian territories.  "In a world of increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions," Borrell stated on his X account.

On Friday, the International Court of Justice said, "Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful."

The regime, the ICJ said, “is under an obligation” to end it “as rapidly as possible.”  In 1967, Israeli forces occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East al-Quds, the areas that Palestinians want for a future independent state.

The 83-page advisory opinion read out by ICJ President Nawaf Salam outlined a wide list of policies that it said violated international law, including the building and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds.

The court has ruled that Israel’s presence in the 1967-occupied Palestinian territories is “unlawful” and must end.

Earlier, Borrell wrote on his blog post that “Introducing caveats, objections or exceptions based on non-legal grounds damages the rule-based order, damages our values and will damage our international standing and weaken our position on other issues including Ukraine.”

“If one of the parties is not satisfied by the decision of the Court it can of course address a specific request for interpretation but not disregard it,” he said.

“It is time for the EU to take its responsibilities in front of a catastrophic situation of an unprecedented magnitude.  We have to act.  Our moral and political credibility is at risk.”