Israeli High Court to Consider Legality of Security Barrier

Israeli High Court to Consider Legality of Security Barrier

 

Ross Dunn

Israel's high court has agreed to consider the legality of a controversial West Bank security barrier, just weeks before the project is tested under international law.

Israel's high court decided¹ Thursday that it will be the first forum² to consider whether a barrier, now under construction in and around the West Bank, is lawful³.

A hearing has been set for February 5, about two weeks before Israelis and Palestinians are scheduled to start presenting their arguments on the issue at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The Israeli high court will hear a petition submitted by the Center for the Defense⁴ of the Individual - a human rights group.

The petition deals with the building of the barrier beyond the so-called Green Line, which delineates Israel from the West Bank.

Legal experts in Israel say the hearing will act, in their words, as a dress rehearsal⁵ for the Israeli defense counsel's appearance in The Hague.

The International Court is to convene⁶ February 23 after the U.N. General Assembly requested a ruling on whether Israel is legally obliged to tear down the barrier.

Some Israeli cabinet ministers are calling for the route of the barrier to be changed before the matter goes to court.

Israel's justice minister, Tommy Lapid, has warned the Jewish state risks being brought into international disrepute by crossing this line and constructing some parts of the project inside the West Bank.

The Palestinian leadership claims the barrier is an attempt by Israel to seize more land and unilaterally determine the boundaries of a future Palestinian State.

Israel denies this and says that the project is meant only to prevent Palestinians from crossing over into the Jewish State to carry out suicide bombings and other terror attacks.

Israel says that the barrier does not constitute a new political boundary and can be dismantled⁸ if and when a final peace agreement is reached with the Palestinians.

 

注释：

high court  最高法院

legality [li(:)5^Aliti] n. 合法性

controversial [7kCntrE5vE:FEl] adj. 争论的，争议的

West Bank  西岸，亚洲西南部，以色列与约旦之间、约旦河以西的一片有争议的区域。

barrier [5bAriE] n. （阻碍通道的）障碍物，屏障

forum [5fC:rEm] n. 论坛，讨论会

hearing [5hiEriN] n. 听证会

International Court of Justice  联合国国际法院

The Hague n. 海牙（荷兰的中央政府所在地，在荷兰西部）

petition [pi5tiFEn] n. 诉状，请愿

Center for the Defense of the Individual  由HaMoked领导的个人防卫中心

Green Line 绿线，是现在对1967第三次阿以战争（以色列称为“六日战争”）停火线约定俗成的叫法，因为当时在地图上用绿色墨水画出而得名。

delineate [di5linieit] v. 勾画，画出

dress rehearsal  彩排

International Court  即the International Court of Justice，国际法庭

convene [kEn5vi:n] v. 召集，集合

U.N. General Assembly 联合国大会

tear down  拆卸

cabinet minister  内阁大臣

Jewish state  犹太国

disrepute [5disri5pju:t] n. 坏名声

unilaterally [5ju:nilAtErEli] adv. 单方面地，单边地

cross over  穿过，横越

constitute [5kCnstitju:t] vt. 建立，制定

dismantle⁷ [dis5mAntl] v. 拆除

 

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

6 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

7 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

8 dismantled   

拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消

参考例句：

• The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。
• The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。