Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) – “Five years of illegality” is the title of the report from Oxfam on the wall built by Israel in the West Bank. With this publication, the British NGO wants to mark the fifth anniversary of the statements of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in 2004 had established the illegal construction of the wall and urged the authorities in Tel Aviv to dismantle it.
Oxfam reports that since the ruling of the Court the" most distinguished international legal body has been met by inaction”. Then the General Assembly had strongly supported the ICJ ruling. Israel responded that the construction of the wall was needed to ensure national security which the English organization never took into consideration.
The barrier was started in 2002 and construction is ongoing. When completed it will stretch for 790 km and divide the West Bank into three sections, completely cutting off East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as a future capital. Israel says that the construction of the barrier has reduced almost to zero the number of terrorist attacks. The report, "Five years of illegality" presents the situation of 13 Palestinian communities living in areas crossed by the wall. Oxfam says that the construction has caused poverty, social exclusion, and problems of mobility, employment and access to services for all Palestinian residents living near the barrier.