Top UN court calls Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian territories ‘illegal’ [Video]

The top United Nations court said Friday that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on it to end, and for settlement construction to stop immediately, issuing an unprecedented, sweeping condemnation of Israel’s rule over the lands it captured 57 years ago.Related video above: Israeli forces deemed abusive by the US are now guiding Gaza warfareIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the nonbinding opinion issued by the 15-judge panel of the International Court of Justice, saying the territories are part of the Jewish people’s historic homeland. However, the resounding breadth of the decision could impact international opinion and fuel moves for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.The judges pointed to a wide list of policies — including the building and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, the use of the area’s natural resources, the annexation and imposition of permanent control …