French appeals court rules Israel is not illegally occupying land

Dreuz reports that a French appeals court in Versailles has ruled that Israel was not acting illegally in building a light rail line across the Green Line.

The PLO must pay 30,000 euros separately to Alstom, Alstom Transport and Veolia Transport.

The PLO had argued that Israel was violating the Geneva Conventions by "transferring" citizens to the territories and destroying property, as well as a host of other claims.

The court ruled, however, Israel was acting within the Hague Regulations of how an occupier must act, "the authority of the legitimate power having in fact passed into the hands of the occupant, the latter shall take all measures in his power to restore, and ensure, as far as possible, public order and safety, while respecting, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in the country."

Going beyond that, the court ruled that the Geneva Conventions and Hague Regulations only apply to states, and to signatories, and the PLO is neither.

Google Translate does a good job - it is worth reading. The full ruling is also at the site, but in French.

(h/t EG)