Israel high court upholds northern route of security barrier News
Israel high court upholds northern route of security barrier

[JURIST] Israel's High Court [official website] ruled Sunday that a proposed portion of Israel's Security Fence [official website; JURIST news archive] running north of Jerusalem is legal despite its segregation of five villages and about 1,500 Palestinians from the rest of Israel. Many of the villagers hold Israeli identification cards. Chief Justice Aharon Barak [official profile] wrote:

[w]e accept the State's position that there is a need to build a separation wall to advance the security objectives of protecting Jerusalem, nearby communities and roads leading to it, from terror activities.

UPI has more. YNet has local coverage.

The security fence has been the subject of national and international challenges. In April this year, the Israeli Supreme Court approved construction [JURIST report] of a portion of the fence around Jerusalem. The International Court of Justice [official website] handed down an advisory opinion [text; JURIST report] in 2004 that the fence violated international law.

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.