Canada’s obligation under international law has implications for trade agreements
On Friday, July 19, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its Advisory Opinion on the status of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The proceedings, and the Court’s authority to issue its Advisory Opinion, arose from a request contained in a UN General Assembly resolution of December 30, 2022.
The International Court of Justice voted in favour of the opinion, stating inter alia that:
- the State of Israel's presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is unlawful;
- the State of Israel is under obligation to end its unlawful presence in the OPT as rapidly as possible;
- the State of Israel is under obligation to cease immediately all new settlements activities and to evacuate all settlers from the OPT, and
- the State of Israel has an obligation to make reparations for the damage caused to all natural or legal persons concerned in the OPT.
The United Church of Canada responded with a letter written to Melanie Joly, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada (available in the Downloads, below), reminding the Government of Canada not to lose this opportunity but instead to take courageous steps to provide principled leadership within the international community toward a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis, in compliance with international law.