Immediate release
Canada seeks to block World Court advisory opinion on Palestine
Canada has made a written submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling on the court to not fulfill a legal request from the United Nations General Assembly. On December 30, 2022, the General Assembly passed a resolution asking the ICJ to provide an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the violation of Palestinians’ right to self-determination due to Israel’s occupation and annexation of its territory.
“As the Trudeau government crows about international law and the rules based international order, it is seeking to block the World Court from delivering a legal opinion on Palestine,” noted Karen Rodman of Just Peace Advocates. Rodman continued saying “Canada’s submission said since Israel had not provided consent to the process, the World Court should not provide an advisory opinion.”
Rather than considering the substantive legal issues included in the request for an ICJ advisory opinion, Canada suggested a Court opinion would polarize the issue because Israel does not agree to it.
“While Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem and others detail Israeli apartheid, Canada’s submission suggests that the state committing war crimes and violating human rights should agree to the World Court issuing an advisory opinion. This is akin to asking a murderer to accept a court process” said Yves Engler of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute.
Over the last several days, over 1500 letters have been sent to the Canadian government expressing concern about Canada’s statement to the World Court.
Contact:
Bianca Mugyenyi, Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, info@foreignpolicy.ca
Karen Rodman, Just Peace Advocates, info@justpeaceadvoates.ca
