Norway has presented its arguments on the fifth day of the ICJ hearings on the lawfulness of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Here are the main points:

* Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem constitute a chief obstacle to any prospects for a lasting peace in the region.

* In its advisory opinion in 2004, the ICJ found that the construction of a wall in and around occupied East Jerusalem violates international law.

* Numerous UN resolutions assessed that settlements are in flagrant breach of international law and stressed the need to reverse the “negative trends on the ground that are steadily eroding the possibility of a two-state solution”.

* Developments on the ground “give reason to ask whether the occupation is turning into a de-facto annexation.”

* Annexation is a unilateral act and is prohibited under customary international law.

* The legal consequences arising from such a prolonged occupation violate the principle of self-determination and every state has the duty to refrain from any action that deprives people of this right.

* Numerous UN resolutions assessed that settlements are in flagrant breach of international law and stressed the need to reverse the “negative trends on the ground that are steadily eroding the possibility of a two-state solution”.

* Developments on the ground “give reason to ask whether the occupation is turning into a de-facto annexation.”

* Annexation is a unilateral act and is prohibited under customary international law.

* The legal consequences arising from such a prolonged occupation violate the principle of self-determination and every state has the duty to refrain from any action that deprives people of this right.