The Palestinian Authority's proposal to have the international court in the Hague address the issue of the counter-terrorism fence/wall was the topic of a special meeting in the Prime Minister's Office today.
The proposal to move the issue to The Hague will be discussed at an emergency United Nations session today. Israel is very apprehensive that the transfer of the matter to an international tribunal is another step towards delegitimizing the Jewish People's right to defend itself in its own land.
Israeli officials are not giving up, but it appears that the proposal will pass. European countries are not in favor of the proposal, but are likely to abstain; the U.S. will object, but those in favor appear to have the majority. Sharon and his advisors must decide whether they want to take part in the UN debate, or to boycott it.
The PA representation in the UN withdrew the proposal last month, but decided to resubmit it following a critical report on the partition by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Aryeh Mekel, Israel's Deputy Ambassador in the UN, said that moving the issue to the Hague would be harmful to the negotiating process, "especially now when there appears to be a chance for progress." Some member states said that passing the proposal would weaken the UN's influence.
The proposal to move the issue to The Hague will be discussed at an emergency United Nations session today. Israel is very apprehensive that the transfer of the matter to an international tribunal is another step towards delegitimizing the Jewish People's right to defend itself in its own land.
Israeli officials are not giving up, but it appears that the proposal will pass. European countries are not in favor of the proposal, but are likely to abstain; the U.S. will object, but those in favor appear to have the majority. Sharon and his advisors must decide whether they want to take part in the UN debate, or to boycott it.
The PA representation in the UN withdrew the proposal last month, but decided to resubmit it following a critical report on the partition by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Aryeh Mekel, Israel's Deputy Ambassador in the UN, said that moving the issue to the Hague would be harmful to the negotiating process, "especially now when there appears to be a chance for progress." Some member states said that passing the proposal would weaken the UN's influence.