Prime Minister Sharon will convene a special ministerial meeting tomorrow to discuss the ramifications of the Hague Court's decision against Israel's anti-terrorist fence. Participating will be Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, Attorney-General Meni Mazuz, and Foreign Ministry officials.
The Justice Minister said on Friday that the Hague ruling doesn't bother him, and that "we will continue building the fence to protect the lives of Israeli citizens."
The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled on Friday that the fence as currently built is in violation of international law, and that Israel must tear it down and compensate Arabs who suffered financial partition-related losses.
The American judge was the only one of the 15 justices to vote against the one-sided ruling, and Israel has received backing from the White House as well. The White House spokesman said, "We don't believe that this was the right place to solve this political problem. This is something that must be solved in the context of a diplomatic process and the Road Map."
The next arena of battle on the partition is in the United Nations, which The Hague Court called upon to decide the necessary measures to "end this illegal situation." Voice of Israel radio quoted government sources as saying that the U.S. has promised to prevent UN sanctions against Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Israel has proven that the construction of the fence has led to a great decrease in the number of terrorist infiltrations. "Our position was that the issue never should have been brought to The Hague," he said, noting also that the ruling is non-binding.
The Palestinian Authority was pleased - and even "proud," according to Yasser Arafat. "We are proud of this decision," Arafat said. "We will turn to the United Nations General Assembly, which sent this issue to the court, to discuss it."
Israel's U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman said that the barrier would remain as long as suicide bombers keep attacking Israelis. He said it was "shocking and appalling" that the court failed to recognize that the anti-terror partition was "a temporary, nonviolent security measure" that had reduced terrorist attacks against Israelis by 90%. In almost four years of violence, 964 Israelis have died in Palestinian terror strikes.
The Justice Minister said on Friday that the Hague ruling doesn't bother him, and that "we will continue building the fence to protect the lives of Israeli citizens."
The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled on Friday that the fence as currently built is in violation of international law, and that Israel must tear it down and compensate Arabs who suffered financial partition-related losses.
The American judge was the only one of the 15 justices to vote against the one-sided ruling, and Israel has received backing from the White House as well. The White House spokesman said, "We don't believe that this was the right place to solve this political problem. This is something that must be solved in the context of a diplomatic process and the Road Map."
The next arena of battle on the partition is in the United Nations, which The Hague Court called upon to decide the necessary measures to "end this illegal situation." Voice of Israel radio quoted government sources as saying that the U.S. has promised to prevent UN sanctions against Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Israel has proven that the construction of the fence has led to a great decrease in the number of terrorist infiltrations. "Our position was that the issue never should have been brought to The Hague," he said, noting also that the ruling is non-binding.
The Palestinian Authority was pleased - and even "proud," according to Yasser Arafat. "We are proud of this decision," Arafat said. "We will turn to the United Nations General Assembly, which sent this issue to the court, to discuss it."
Israel's U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman said that the barrier would remain as long as suicide bombers keep attacking Israelis. He said it was "shocking and appalling" that the court failed to recognize that the anti-terror partition was "a temporary, nonviolent security measure" that had reduced terrorist attacks against Israelis by 90%. In almost four years of violence, 964 Israelis have died in Palestinian terror strikes.