International Law

International Law is not a science nor an ethical or religious doctrine whose validity is independent of its practitioners' opinions.

International Law is defined as a consensus, not an eternal truth. It has three sources -

• Treaties ratified between States
• "Customary International Law" - widely accepted State practices (known as opinio juris)
• Domestic laws generally accepted as internationally binding

The Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention state that it is illegal for an occupying power to transfer its citizens into occupied territory to destroy private property or annex land to encourgae civilians in occupied territories to leave. There is an international consensus, including the International Court of Justice and the International Committee of the Red Cross, that the Fourth Geneva Convention is applicable to the Israeli Occupation Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention requires signatories to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances.

Israeli breaches of International Law have the following effects -

• Impunity encourages further offences.
• The consequences are felt by the victims.
• Breaches become embedded. In the case of the West Bank, the settler movement is now stronger than ever.
• All signatories to the Convention and the Regulations bear some responsibility for not enforcing International Law.
• The resulting resentment strengthens Al Qaida and ISIL.