EU backs ICJ ruling on illegal Israeli occupation

The United Nation's top court ruled that Israel's 57-year occupation of Palestinian land is illegal, a decision that aligns closely with European Union (EU) positions, said the EU's bloc’s Foreign Policy chief, Josep Borrell.

The sweeping opinion by The Hague-based Internation Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday called for the occupation to end as soon as possible. Israel immediately condemned the ruling as anti-Semitic and a "decision of lies."

Borrell stated that the EU had taken "good note" of the court's decision and called for further support for the ICJ's opinion.

"In a world of constant and increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions in a consistent manner, irrespective of the subject in question," he said.

Borrell added that the opinion "will need to be analysed more thoroughly, including its implications for EU policy."