House resolution misrepresents South Africa’s position on barrier
14 July 2004
House resolution misrepresents South Africa’s position on barrier
Click here to get to the House resolution (H. Res. 713) rejecting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on the separation barrier.
Partners for Peace spoke earlier today with the Embassy of South Africa and confirmed that the House resolution rejecting the ICJ decision brazenly misrepresents the position of the government of South Africa. The South African government should not have been among the countries cited as having “submitted objections on various grounds against the ICJ hearing the case.”
The government of South Africa in fact stated:
1. The ICJ has jurisdiction
2. The barrier is an illegal construction
3. Any further construction of the barrier in the West Bank should be dismantled
The position of the free and democratic nation of South Africa is a morally compelling one that should not be misappropriated by Rep. Pence and the U.S. Congress. The fact that South Africa sides with the Palestinians in their case against modern-day Bantus dramatically swings the moral equation in the direction of the Palestinians and their case.
Partners for Peace notes that the barrier is illegal only where it falls in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel can build a barrier so long as it is inside Israel or on the Green Line.
The vote is expected this afternoon or evening. As of the writing of this press release, the website of Rep. Mike Pence still erroneously included South Africa in the resolution.
For further information on the effort afoot in the US House of Representatives to undermine international law and, in effect, relegate Palestinians to Bantus, please call Michael Brown, Executive Director, Partners for Peace, 202-863-2951.
