Palestinian Authority Requests Opinion of International Court of Justice to End Israeli Occupation

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid instructed "the formation of a political and security toolbox to confront the recent Palestinian move at the United Nations (UN).

Lapid's instructions came after the end of security meetings and consultations that discussed "taking a series of steps to respond to the Palestinian move."

He  said that "the path to resolving the conflict does not pass through the corridors of the United Nations or other international bodies, and the Palestinian move will have repercussions."

He did not say what these repercussions were, but Israeli media said it indicated possible sanctions.

Israel had transmitted threatening messages to the Palestinian Authority, in case it did not back down from going to the Hague Court of Justice to formulate a legal opinion on the nature of the ongoing occupation of Palestinian land in preparation for the end of the occupation.

On Friday, the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, the Committee on Political and Decolonization, voted to request a legal advisory opinion from the highest international judicial body; the International Court of Justice, on “What is the existence of the Israeli colonial occupation in the territory of the State of Palestine, including East Jerusalem”.