Israel begins the West Bank barrier; the ICJ finds its West Bank route unlawful

What happened

Israel's government approves the construction of a barrier, which it describes as a security measure against attacks. Its route runs largely inside the West Bank rather than along the Green Line. On 9 July 2004 the International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion requested by the General Assembly, finds construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, contrary to international law; Israel rejects the opinion.

The barrier and the permit regime around it — the "seam zone", the Jerusalem checkpoints — shape movement and access in the West Bank and East Jerusalem today. The 2004 opinion is the legal precedent the Court built on in its 2024 opinion on Israel's policies and practices.

Confidence: High