This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
On January 29, Israel's assessment was scheduled. It was its first since December 2008. It failed to show up. It boycotted the session. Doing so was unprecedented.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemned Israel's refusal to participate.
It said its boycott reflects "another demonstration of its contempt for international human rights norms, and is made possible by the complacency of the international community.""The failure to hold Israel to account for its violations of international human rights and humanitarian law has further deepened the culture of impunity which allows such violations to occur."
Fifteen Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations called on HRC "to take a firm stand consistent with the seriousness of Israel's obstructive actions to date."
They warned that Israel's unprecedented move is "one that could be followed by other States refusing to engage with the UN in order to avoid critical appraisals."
They added that Israel's "move to suspend cooperation with the Council and the OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) must be viewed within the context of its ongoing refusal to respect the decisions, resolutions and mechanisms of the UN."
"Consecutive Israeli governments have refused to recognize the State's obligations under international human rights law with regard to the Palestinian population of the occupied Palestinian territory, obligations repeatedly reaffirmed in statements by UN treaty bodies."
UNC postponed its review until October. Last year, Israel reduced relations with the organization. It did so following its decision to investigate settlement activities. It threatens severing relations entirely. Rogue states operate that way. Israel's one of the worst.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
1
1
