At the start of today's weekly Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the following remarks:
"Just over one hour ago, an Israeli woman was murdered by criminal Palestinian terrorists, and additional civilians were wounded. We all pray for their recovery.
"This morning's act of murder is the first to have occurred under the auspices of the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. On Friday, the sacred right of the war on terrorism received a slap in the face by the ICJ in The Hague, after it decided that the terrorism-prevention fence is illegal and that Israel must dismantle it.
"I want to make it clear: The State of Israel completely rejects the ICJ's opinion. This is a one-sided opinion based solely on political considerations. The opinion completely ignores the reason for the construction of the security fence - murderous Palestinian terrorism. It deals only with the Israeli response - the construction of the fence, which is the most reasonable means in the face of this despicable terrorism.
"But what the ICJ judges refused to see, the Palestinians quickly showed them this morning - murder and the wounding of innocent civilians. It is not for nothing that the Palestinians are struggling against the fence. They know full well that the completion of the fence will make it very difficult for them to continue perpetrating acts of murder.
"The opinion sends a deadly message that encourages terror on the one hand, and prevents countries from protecting themselves against it on the other. Today, all who fear the spread of terror must stand alongside Israel in demanding that this immoral and dangerous opinion pass from the world. All civilized people for whom standing against terror is important must stand alongside Israel and disavow both the opinion and its dangerous significance."
"Just over one hour ago, an Israeli woman was murdered by criminal Palestinian terrorists, and additional civilians were wounded. We all pray for their recovery.
"This morning's act of murder is the first to have occurred under the auspices of the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. On Friday, the sacred right of the war on terrorism received a slap in the face by the ICJ in The Hague, after it decided that the terrorism-prevention fence is illegal and that Israel must dismantle it.
"I want to make it clear: The State of Israel completely rejects the ICJ's opinion. This is a one-sided opinion based solely on political considerations. The opinion completely ignores the reason for the construction of the security fence - murderous Palestinian terrorism. It deals only with the Israeli response - the construction of the fence, which is the most reasonable means in the face of this despicable terrorism.
"But what the ICJ judges refused to see, the Palestinians quickly showed them this morning - murder and the wounding of innocent civilians. It is not for nothing that the Palestinians are struggling against the fence. They know full well that the completion of the fence will make it very difficult for them to continue perpetrating acts of murder.
"The opinion sends a deadly message that encourages terror on the one hand, and prevents countries from protecting themselves against it on the other. Today, all who fear the spread of terror must stand alongside Israel in demanding that this immoral and dangerous opinion pass from the world. All civilized people for whom standing against terror is important must stand alongside Israel and disavow both the opinion and its dangerous significance."