Friday, July 9th, the International Court of Justice, also known as the World High Court, ruled that the barrier Israel is building in the West Bank is contrary to international law and said that it should be torn down. The court situated in The Hague also demanded that compensation should be paid to Palestinians cut off from their land and livelihoods.
The barrier "cannot be justified by military exigencies or by the requirements of national security or public order," said Judge Shi Jiuyong of China. "The construction of such a wall accordingly constitutes breaches by Israel of its obligations under international law."
Of the fifteen justices sitting on the World Court, only the justice representing the United States refused to sign off on the callous and bombastic condemnation of the Jewish people's right to defend their lives and existence.
Koffi Annan, head of the United Nations, had this to say about the World Court's decision: "Whilst we all accept the government of Israel has a responsibility, and indeed the duty, to protect its citizens, any action it takes has to be in conformity with international law." Mr. Annan's purposeful statement in support of the High Court decision was the epitome of diplomatic cruelty and heartlessness.
It is not by coincidence that the International World Court is situated geographically in the northern country of the Netherlands. The world representatives coming together to condemn the Jewish people is perhaps alluded too in the book of Jeremiah (1:15-16), which was read on the very same Shabbat, only one day following the court's decision:
"For behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the North [World High Court - The Hague] - the word of G-D - and they shall come and each of them shall place his throne [credentials] at the entrance of Jerusalem's gates [Israel's government] and by all its walls roundabout [the protective fence] and by all the cities of Judah [West Bank and Jerusalem]."
Jeremiah continues, "for they have forsaken Me," etc.
Obviously, we must hear Jeremiah's call to do teshuvah and return to G-d. The grievous error by Jerusalem's mayor allowing the Gay Pride Parade, which recently took place on the streets of Yerushalayim, only weakens the spiritually strong and protective walls of Jerusalem.
Immediately following the World Court decision, a terrorist bomb went off in Tel Aviv that killed and injured many people. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon responded to the callous attack by voicing a strong condemnation against the World Court's decision: "The murderous act this morning is the first that occurred to the credit of the decision of the World Court at The Hague. The decision sends a destructive message encouraging terror and denounces countries that are defending themselves against it." He called the ruling a "slap in the face" to Israel's fight against Palestinian terror and said Israel "totally rejects the decision."
It would be a good idea for the Prime Minister and the Knesset to review and withdraw from the dangerous and risky abandonment of Gaza and parts of Judea and Samaria.
It is not the Israeli protective fence alone that protects the Jewish people. It is the faith and adherence to Torah, which clearly and unambiguously states in the Code of Jewish Law that in the case of a city close to the border, when the enemy only wants to take property, not even lives, we desecrate the Shabbat (to oppose them); for we conclude that they want to take over the city, and from there they will find it easier to launch their attack to take over the Land. (Shulchan Aruch Harav, Laws of Shabbat, Orech Chaim Chapter 329:6)
The above Torah law is pertinent not only in the context of the Land of Israel, but applies to every situation in which the principle of "pikuach nefesh", saving and protecting life, is involved.
The world's silence in light of the High Court's condemnation of Israel for protecting its citizens' lives by building a wall -- that at the most, inconveniences Palestinians -- once again proves that Israel and the Jewish people are subject to a double standard called anti-Semitism, and that this sentiment sadly exists even at the highest levels of law and justice the World Court.
The above reality compels us to pray with greater urgency and passion for the complete redemption of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the third and eternal Beit HaMikdosh.
The barrier "cannot be justified by military exigencies or by the requirements of national security or public order," said Judge Shi Jiuyong of China. "The construction of such a wall accordingly constitutes breaches by Israel of its obligations under international law."
Of the fifteen justices sitting on the World Court, only the justice representing the United States refused to sign off on the callous and bombastic condemnation of the Jewish people's right to defend their lives and existence.
Koffi Annan, head of the United Nations, had this to say about the World Court's decision: "Whilst we all accept the government of Israel has a responsibility, and indeed the duty, to protect its citizens, any action it takes has to be in conformity with international law." Mr. Annan's purposeful statement in support of the High Court decision was the epitome of diplomatic cruelty and heartlessness.
It is not by coincidence that the International World Court is situated geographically in the northern country of the Netherlands. The world representatives coming together to condemn the Jewish people is perhaps alluded too in the book of Jeremiah (1:15-16), which was read on the very same Shabbat, only one day following the court's decision:
"For behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the North [World High Court - The Hague] - the word of G-D - and they shall come and each of them shall place his throne [credentials] at the entrance of Jerusalem's gates [Israel's government] and by all its walls roundabout [the protective fence] and by all the cities of Judah [West Bank and Jerusalem]."
Jeremiah continues, "for they have forsaken Me," etc.
Obviously, we must hear Jeremiah's call to do teshuvah and return to G-d. The grievous error by Jerusalem's mayor allowing the Gay Pride Parade, which recently took place on the streets of Yerushalayim, only weakens the spiritually strong and protective walls of Jerusalem.
Immediately following the World Court decision, a terrorist bomb went off in Tel Aviv that killed and injured many people. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon responded to the callous attack by voicing a strong condemnation against the World Court's decision: "The murderous act this morning is the first that occurred to the credit of the decision of the World Court at The Hague. The decision sends a destructive message encouraging terror and denounces countries that are defending themselves against it." He called the ruling a "slap in the face" to Israel's fight against Palestinian terror and said Israel "totally rejects the decision."
It would be a good idea for the Prime Minister and the Knesset to review and withdraw from the dangerous and risky abandonment of Gaza and parts of Judea and Samaria.
It is not the Israeli protective fence alone that protects the Jewish people. It is the faith and adherence to Torah, which clearly and unambiguously states in the Code of Jewish Law that in the case of a city close to the border, when the enemy only wants to take property, not even lives, we desecrate the Shabbat (to oppose them); for we conclude that they want to take over the city, and from there they will find it easier to launch their attack to take over the Land. (Shulchan Aruch Harav, Laws of Shabbat, Orech Chaim Chapter 329:6)
The above Torah law is pertinent not only in the context of the Land of Israel, but applies to every situation in which the principle of "pikuach nefesh", saving and protecting life, is involved.
The world's silence in light of the High Court's condemnation of Israel for protecting its citizens' lives by building a wall -- that at the most, inconveniences Palestinians -- once again proves that Israel and the Jewish people are subject to a double standard called anti-Semitism, and that this sentiment sadly exists even at the highest levels of law and justice the World Court.
The above reality compels us to pray with greater urgency and passion for the complete redemption of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the third and eternal Beit HaMikdosh.