Territorial Disputes

Introduction

Once again, tensions are mounting in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. In response to Western powers’ import bans on Iranian oil and warnings of other sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear program, Iran has threatened to block the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States in turn has increased its naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, ostensibly in an exercise of its “transit rights of passage” under the law of the sea.

Introduction

Introduction

Tensions between Lebanon and Israel have been running high during the last months due to a legal dispute over rights to newly discovered natural oil and gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea. Formally at war for years, and without diplomatic relations, Israel and Lebanon have never agreed on a delimitation of their maritime boundaries.

Rising Conflict Between Israel and Lebanon

Introduction

Introduction

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I. Introduction

Is the unilateral declaration of independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo in accordance with international law? The International Court of Justice (ICJ or Court) answered this question in the affirmative in a groundbreaking decision issued on July 22, 2010. The Court held that the declaration was not prohibited by general international law nor by any specific sources of international law.

Introduction

On February 25, 2010, in its ruling in Brita GmbH v. Hauptzollamt Hamburg-Hafen, the European Court of Justice ("ECJ") ruled on the trade implications of one of the hot-potato issues of international law: the status of the territories occupied by Israel.