The language and the reasoning of the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinions show that it considers that there is a legal right to self-determination. It would not be easy to convince any international tribunal seeking to apply international law that the Palestinians in Palestine and the Palestinian refugees outside Palestine are precluded from the right to self-determination. The unique nature of the West Bank and Gaza situation is Israel's occupation and the question of how it is to be juxtaposted with the Palestinian right of self-determination. That is where the right of self-defence is considered. Such a right is not identical with state's security.
Security is a political and military interest which Israel has in common with all other states.
It is the reason advanced for Israel's refusal to withdraw from occupied Palestine. Self-defence and security are not identical, either in nature or content. It is not a claim that Israel is exercising its inherent legal right of self-defence by its continued occupation of Palestine. Such a claim would not correspond with the facts of the present situation. The continued occupation by Israel is not proportionate to the threat to it.