(Ottawa) The federal government says it has “taken note” of a decision by the United Nations’ top court that declared Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories illegal.
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the non-binding opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a statement released Friday.
The spokesperson says successive Canadian governments have not recognized Israel’s continuing control over territories that have been occupied since 1967.
The statement said illegal settlements are an obstacle to a just and lasting peace in the region.
The UN court called for an end to the Israeli presence in the occupied Palestinian territories and an immediate halt to settlement development.
The court said Israel had no right to sovereignty over the territories and was violating international law prohibiting the acquisition of territory by force.
With information from Associated Press.