Palestine at the ICJ: Don't limit occupation, says US; don't force Israel, says Russia

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) should take a "measured approach" to the Palestinian case it is hearing this week, the US said on Wednesday - and should definitely not order Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories, as South Africa and others have argued it must.

Israel's security "have been ignored by many of the participants in asserting how the court should consider the questions before it", said Richard Visek, legal advisor to the US Department of State.

And peace in the Middle East will not be achieved by an ICJ legal opinion "that calls for a unilateral, immediate and unconditional withdrawal by Israel that does not account for Israel's legitimate security needs".