Over the past 57 years, Israel has demonstrated it has no intention of ending the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, but the opposite, working to further entrench it and annex the territory (whether formally or in practice). Military occupation is one element of Israel’s apartheid regime. The international community has evaded its duty to protect the Palestinians using various excuses, including the supposed temporary nature of the occupation and the claim that a diplomatic solution designed to resolve the conflict is being negotiated.

The release of the ICJ’s advisory opinion puts an end to these justifications, and now the international community must use every tool - criminal, diplomatic and economic - to force Israeli decision-makers to end the occupation.

B’Tselem