Israeli high court temporarily halts building of separation fence News
Israeli high court temporarily halts building of separation fence

[JURIST] Israel's High Court of Justice [official website] issued a temporary injunction Thursday instructing state workers "to refrain from all uprooting of trees or orchards and digging, paving, leveling, construction or other preparations" for the erecting of the security fence [Israeli Defence Ministry official website] between Israel and Palestinian areas of the West Bank between Jerusalem and Maccabim. The halt on construction was ordered after residents of the Palestinian village of Beit Sourik northwest of Jerusalem, who petitioned the court that the route of the fence did not conform with a June 2004 High Court ruling [text] requiring route adjustments and a similarly-critical advisory ruling [official text] by the International Court of Justice [official website]. Israeli officials, however, have rejected [Haaretz report] the ICJ's ruling on the separation fence as a violation of human rights. The high court has given the state seven days to respond to the petitions. From Israel, Haaretz has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.