During his tenure at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Elaraby was a member of the panel that issued the advisory opinion on the construction of Israel’s security barrier.

Israel protested Elaraby’s appointment to the panel, claiming he was not objective and held anti-Israel views, including his call to sue the Jewish state for genocide.

During an August 2001 interview with an Egyptian newspaper, Elaraby was quoted as saying, “I personally support an Arab Muslim claim against Israeli crimes.” Two months later he was appointed as a judge at the ICJ.