INTERNATIONAL COURT OF WSTICE
Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel: +31 (0)70 302 23 23. Cables: Intercourt,
The Hague. Fax: +31 (0)70 364 99 28. Telex: 32323. E-mail address:
[email protected]. Internet address: http://www.icj-cij.org.
Press Release
Unofficial
No. 2003/42
10 December 2003
The General Assembly of the United Nations reguests an advisory opinion from the Court
on the legal consequences arising from the construction by Israel of a wall
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
THE HAGUE, 10 December 2003. On 8 December 2003, the General Assembly of the
United Nations adopted resolution AIRES/ES-10/14 (A/ES-10/L.16) in which, referring to
Article65 of the Statute of the Court, it requested the International Court of Justice to "urgently
render an advisory opinion on the following question:
What are the legal consequences arising from the construction of the wall being built by
Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East
Jerusalem, as described in the report the Secretary-General, considering the rules and principles
of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and relevant Security
Council and General Assembly resolutions?"
The Request for an Advisory Opinion was transmitted to the Court by the Secretary-General
of the United Nations in a letter dated 8 December 2003 which was received in the Registry on
10 December 2003.
Procedure
The advisory procedure is open to five United Nations organs and 16 specialized agencies of
the United Nations system. It enables them to request advisory opinions from the Court on legal
questions.
On receiving a request for an advisory opinion, the Court itself draws up a list ofthose States
and organizations that may be able to furnish relevant information. It then organizes the written
and/or oral proceedings pursuant to Articles 66 ofits Statute and 105 ofits Rules.
Unlike judgments, the Court's advisory opinions have no binding effect as such. However,
the authority of the Court attaches to them.
The full text of the Request for an Advisory Opinion will shortly be available on the Court's
website (http://www.icj-cij.org).
Information Department:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary of the Court (tel: + 31 70 302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officerstel:+ 31 70 302 23 37)
E-mail address: information@icj -cij.org
The General Assembly of the United Nations requests an advisory opinion from the Court on the legal consequences arising from the construction by Israel of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory