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CNN Live At Daybreak
World Court Plunges Into Mideast Barrier Furor
Aired February 23, 2004 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: International court action comes on the heels of another bloody suicide bombing in Jerusalem. The World Court has now jumped into the controversy over Israel's security barrier -- the one it hopes will keep suicide bombers out.
CNN's John Vause is covering the story life for us at The Hague.
Tell us what's going on there -- John?
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, the Palestinian legal team began making their argument about two hours ago. They have a little less than an hour to go before the 15 judges here at the World Court.
Already, that legal team has argued that Israel's barrier will leave thousands of Palestinians left in enclaves with only about half of the West Bank, and that, they say, will make a two-state solution practically impossible.
They've said that if the barrier is all about stopping the suicide bombers, then why can't Israel build it on its own land? The legal team here said they could build it 80 meters high for all they cared.
The Palestinians are hoping for an advisory opinion, which is non-binding, similar to the one that came down in 1971 against South Africa when South Africa invaded or had occupied Namibia. Now, the World Court here made an advisory opinion that that was illegal. That then led to international sanctions against South Africa and eventually independence for Namibia.
Now, the Israelis are not present. They've not made any argument here at the court today, but 16 other organizations and countries are. But the Israelis have rejected the court's authority to hear this case. They've boycotted it, if you like.
But still, there are thousands of pro-Israeli supporters outside the court, carrying photographs of the 927 people who have been killed by terrorist attacks since the start of the September 2000 uprising. There is also the bus, which was destroyed January 29, Bus No. 19. That suicide bombing leaving 11 people dead and 50 others wounded.
The Israelis may not be inside this court, Carol, but they know that they're on trial, if you like, in the court of public opinion -- Carol.
COSTELLO: John Vause live for us in The Hague this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired February 23, 2004 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: International court action comes on the heels of another bloody suicide bombing in Jerusalem. The World Court has now jumped into the controversy over Israel's security barrier -- the one it hopes will keep suicide bombers out.
CNN's John Vause is covering the story life for us at The Hague.
Tell us what's going on there -- John?
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, the Palestinian legal team began making their argument about two hours ago. They have a little less than an hour to go before the 15 judges here at the World Court.
Already, that legal team has argued that Israel's barrier will leave thousands of Palestinians left in enclaves with only about half of the West Bank, and that, they say, will make a two-state solution practically impossible.
They've said that if the barrier is all about stopping the suicide bombers, then why can't Israel build it on its own land? The legal team here said they could build it 80 meters high for all they cared.
The Palestinians are hoping for an advisory opinion, which is non-binding, similar to the one that came down in 1971 against South Africa when South Africa invaded or had occupied Namibia. Now, the World Court here made an advisory opinion that that was illegal. That then led to international sanctions against South Africa and eventually independence for Namibia.
Now, the Israelis are not present. They've not made any argument here at the court today, but 16 other organizations and countries are. But the Israelis have rejected the court's authority to hear this case. They've boycotted it, if you like.
But still, there are thousands of pro-Israeli supporters outside the court, carrying photographs of the 927 people who have been killed by terrorist attacks since the start of the September 2000 uprising. There is also the bus, which was destroyed January 29, Bus No. 19. That suicide bombing leaving 11 people dead and 50 others wounded.
The Israelis may not be inside this court, Carol, but they know that they're on trial, if you like, in the court of public opinion -- Carol.
COSTELLO: John Vause live for us in The Hague this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
