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Ahmad Gharabli / AFP - Getty Images
A Palestinian activist fixes a flag near a proposed new encampment in the West Bank on Jan 20.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank violate Palestinian human rights and must be withdrawn, United Nations investigators said Thursday — a move described by observers as "unprecedented."
An international report by the U.N. Human Rights Council said Israel is "committing serious breaches of its obligations under the right to self-determination and under humanitarian law."
All settlers must begin to withdraw from the occupied territories, the report said. It echoed the earlier claim of Palestinians that the the practices of settlers could be considered possible war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Israel, which did not cooperate with the investigation, dismissed the document as "biased" and said it would "only hamper efforts to find a sustainable solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict."
Tel Aviv-based Haaretz said the "unprecedented" conclusion was the U.N.’s "harshest condemnation of Israeli policy in West Bank since 1967."
About 250 settlements in the West Bank have been established since 1967 and they hold an estimated 520,000 settlers, the U.N. said.
Palestinians claim the settlements hamper Palestinian access to farm lands.
The report [PDF link], led by French judge Christine Chanet and summarized in a news release in Geneva on Thursday, said:
"Israel must, in compliance with article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, cease all settlement activities without preconditions. It must immediately initiate a process of withdrawal of all settlers from the OPT (occupied Palestinian territories).
These violations are all interrelated, forming part of an overall pattern of breaches that are characterised principally by the denial of the right to self-determination and systemic discrimination against the Palestinian people which occur on a daily basis.
Since 1967, Israeli governments have openly led, directly participated in, and had full control of the planning, construction, development, consolidation and encouragement of settlements, the report states."
Asma Jahangir, one of the authors of the report, said: "We are today calling on the government of Israel to ensure full accountability for all violations, put an end to the policy of impunity and to ensure justice for all victims."
Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement refuting the findings, according to the Jerusalem Post. "The Human Rights Council has sadly distinguished itself by its systematical, one-sided and biased approach towards Israel. This latest report is yet another unfortunate reminder of such approach," the newspaper quoted the ministry as saying.
Hanan Ashrawi, a top official with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, told Reuters: "This is incredible. We are extremely heartened by this principled and candid assessment of Israeli violations...This report clearly states the Israel is not just violating the 4th Geneva Convention, but places Israel in liability to the Rome Statute under the jurisdiction of the ICC."
Related:
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US slams Israel's decision to expand settlements
Israeli court throws out family's lawsuit over death of US activist Rachel Corrie
Leave a Comment:
Not surprisingly that the UN would say this since they are horribly races towards Israel and highly hypocritical.
In 1948 the UN General Assembly made a nonbinding resolution recommending that the Mandate for Palestine was insufficient given Arab protests on the already been division giving the Arabs 77% of the land which is now the nation of Jordan. The Arabs were adamant against ANY land given to the Jews. So Resolution 181 recommended that the 22% given to the Jews be further be divided giving half of that 22% be also given to the Arabs.
The day after that non binding resolution, the Arab world attacked Israel determined to kill all Jews and forever extinguish any hope of restoring the nation of Israel. In that war Jordan seized the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Arab forces also seized Gaza.
In the 1967 war Israel retook Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and part of the Sinai. The peace accord with Egypt gave Egypt back the Sinai territory. After the 1967 war, Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza relinquished their Jordanian passports and declared themselves in the PLO charter committed to the elimination of Israel and the formation of an Arab state in it's place.
The Arabs have NO legal right to one square inch of Israel which includes the West Bank and Gaza
Israel was not established by the UN, that is one of the myths put out by the misinformed
Israel was formed by the 1920 San Remo Conference which was ratified by the League of Nations.
that agreement established the Arab State in Palestine which gave them 77% of Palestine and is now called Jordan. It also created Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq
The Arabs protested the move by England to formally release their control of the portion of Palestine they still controlled to Israel and sent the issue to the UN. Resolution 181 which is a General Assembly recommendation and NON BINDING further attempted to divide Israel and give half of Israel to the Arabs was REJECTED by the Arabs who launched a war the next day against Israel.
At NO Time has there ever been an Arab state of Palestine in Israel. At NO Time has there ever been an Arab capital in Jerusalem.
There are NO binding (Chapter VII) UN resolutions concerning Israel or the Arabs living in Israel.
Larry Robinson-1323081
You dress lke a sailor, how do you feel about the deliberate murder of 34 US sailors aboard the USS Liberty, hhhmmmm?????
Just an "accident", right?
Moron.
Well Bob, how do you feel about being a racist anti-semite?
So sorry my arab cousins. You could not push us into the sea, you cant beat us by shooting rockets at us, you might as well give up and pack your bags and move to Jordan or Syria. You cant wipe us out using military means and your boys in the UN have no power over what Israel does. You win the wars, you get the land. It sucks I know but that is how it goes. It has been happening for centuries and it will happen for centuries.
The West Bank and Gaza are not occupied territories. They were given to Israel in 1922 via the San Remo Conference which created the nations of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Do you want to cede those back also?
ALL of the UN Resolutions regarding Israel are NON BINDING Chapter 6 Resolutions which are only RECOMMENDATIONS and carry no weight of enforcement. Read the UN Charter.
Even Resolution 181 which supposedly established the state of Israel and a separate area for Arabs was NON BINDING. The Arabs in fact voted against it and went to war the next day after it's passage.
UN General Assembly Resolutions are even less authoritative. They are votes of “Sentiment” and cannot be law.
There was NO Attempt to create a separate Palestinian state in the land of Israel (including the West Bank and Gaza) until 1967. ALL efforts prior to that were focused on eliminating the state of Israel and making the entire region part of Muslim/Arab control.
Article 15 of the Palestinian National Covenant (1968)
The liberation of Palestine, from the Arab viewpoint, is a national duty to repulse the Zionist, imperialist invasion from the great Arab homeland and to purge the Zionist presence from Palestine. Its full responsibilities fall upon the Arab nation, peoples and governments, with the Palestinian Arab people at its head.
Islamic Jihad leader, Ramadan Abdalla Shalah says [Mid-East Mirror, November 10, 1996):
Hamas leader, Abdel-Aziz Rantisi [Jerusalem Post, May 25, 1997]:
We the Palestinian nation, our fate from Allah is to be the vanguard in the war against the Jews until the resurrection of the dead, as the prophet Muhammad said: "The resurrection of the dead will not arrive until you will fight the Jews and kill them…"
- Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim Madi, Palestinian Television, 30 March 2001
What a joke!! The UN telling a Israel what to do!!!! HA HA HA !!!! When the UN gets Iran to allow nuclear inspectors in their nation, stops the radial Muslims from killing and ends the GREED so wide spread in the UN, then Maybe, we might listen to them!!!!
earth to ED: Human rights violation by one country (israel) have nothing to with nuclear inspections in another, IRAN.
REALITY TO GUANTANAMO....
There is no such thing as "human rights."
The only rights any human has are those granted to him by the government or ruler of the country in which he lives.
The term stands beside "civil rights" as one fabricated and promoted by humanitarians, and viable only as long as there are guns and armies wielding them to force compliance.
That's what the UN was formed to do, led by the US as the leader of peace in the world. Seems the US has forgotten that when it comes to Israel. Perhaps its all the money used to buy politicians...
Israel has been recognized by the U.N. in 1948. But Palestanian has recently been recognized, too. Israel then has to abide and to acknowledge the U.N. resolution, including the UN panel's report.
Or Israel may be denied as a UN member, for this is one of the rules.
If the UN told the truth
UN to Israel you must move so that the Palestinians can have a closer place to launch their missiles from
is Israel the only member nation that never has a seat on the UN Security Council? is there any reason why Israel should listen to them?
Israel is losing the propaganda war lately, and NEEDS to confront this issue. Time is running out. This issue can no longer be kicked down the road. The Palestinians must finally come to the realization that they will NEVER get everything they want. Where are the reasonable people from either side?
Unfortunately no reasobale people in Israeli side..
Most of Israelis are stubborn idiots, living in a fantasyland, supported largely by US entitlements.
The only language these misfits will understand is UN mandates.
Wow, which of your psychotic personalities thought up that line of logic? Time to up the meds.
Plain and simple, make a statement to Israel. If they do not complete and acknowledge the findings by the U.N. then the U.S. rescinds all aid and support to them. This is lunacy. The Israelite's have been pushing and pushing and sooner or later the bubble will burst, then they drag us into another war...i don't think so.
The "Palestinians" or so they call themselves are the scum of the earth. The Israelis should retake all the land taken in the 67 war including the Sinai peninsula up to the Suez Canal. This is also another reason the US and Israel should abandon the failed UN, kick them out of NY City and the US entirely and stop foreign aid to all Muslim countries. If another airliner or civilian is hurt by a muslim, Mecca should disappear in a mushroom cloud. That is a good policy for starters.
Stop ALL "US Taxpayer Charity" to the terrorist welfare state of israel!
Yep, as soon as we stop all welfare aid to ALL terrorist states including Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Pakistan, and Mexico.
And in anticipation of everyone giving back all land taken in war and pillaging to the original inhabitants, I am eagerly packing my moccasins and tomahawk. I'll have to take a tour to decide if I want to live on the land of my ancestors the Sioux or the land of my ancestors the Choctaw.....
All I hear lately is Iran is not complying with UN Sanctions... North Korea is not complying with UN resolutions.. for that, we jump right up and enforce them. But now the shoe is on the other foot with Israel in non compliance. and now suddenly the UN is useless?..so its all good when you want to point to IRAN/N Korea but it doesn't apply to you? .. you cant have it both ways!
You think the rest of the world doesn't sees this happening? China.. Russia... They don't see the double standard being applied? You better dam well believe Russia, China, and the other bit powerhouses are going to start acting the same way US and Israel do.
Great post !
Yes, it is a great post but I see it differently than you.
None of the countries mentioned have complied with UN directives so why should Israel. And Israel won the land through an exercise of war.
Game over.
They are not at war, they are suppose to be trying to gain peace. Our tax dollars are not being spent to help Israel steal land, its because they have been singing woe is us, we poor Israelis only want peace and they keep attacking us.. The truth is, Israel uses every opportunity to take land. They have proven over and over they don't want peace, and are using everyone. Especially the US taxpayer.
Here we are,
Great point. This is the core of all non-sense going on over in Middle east.
If Israel does not have nukes, ALL Arabs over there will line up behind US to force Iran give up. Arabs have no mood for become nuke capable. But, Israel being there bitching and moaning, just drive Arabs crazy, make the case so week.
When UN established Israel, it was good. Now, UN tells Israel to behave, its no good.
Ever since I have been on the Vine people here have been calling for us to leave the UN and kick them out of New York.
This is not a new thing.
I honestly don't think Iran, nor anyone else wants war, except Israel. Because Nobody else has anything to gain from it. They all want to be left alone. I really do believe if Israel and Palestine would sit down.. Honestly, and put their differences aside, and if a moderator from a Neutral country, maybe Ireland or Scotland lets say, brokered a deal, I think Palestinians would take the deal.
Make both Israel and Palestine agree to a binding resolution by a Neutral moderator and put land deeds up, as well as sworn affidavits. Once the terms have been set there is no going back- All Sales Final! Make it transparent, all discussions out in the open for all to see then if someone defaults it will be as clear as day who went back on their word. I do not think Israel wants to give Anything back and actually wants to take more but they say they want peace.. lets put it to the test.
We will never know until we get a truly Neutral Moderator involved. Not the UN and certainly not the US. Not another Arab country. Not our war allies such as France or UK, maybe an African country or Ireland. Ireland can relate to what both sides want and what both sides have been through, to some degree, as they have been in both of their shoes.
Not that anything will be done, but this is great !
These illegal settlements are a major obstruction in obtaining peace in that region.
The United States and Israel are the only countries in the world that support the illegal settlements in Gaza.
I cannot imagine anyone wanting to live in that teeming slum (one of the most densely populated places on Earth) known as Gaza.
Yes--I have been to Gaza.
You forgot to mention our distinguished allies of banana republics who share our vision.
Israel has plenty of territory of its own on which to build settlements. As part of any future peace deal, it should abandon the settlements it has built on Palestinian territory, providing housing for Palestinian families.
But in reality, the Palestinians will just use that territory to launch terror attacks against Israel.
They don't need that land to launch attacks. They can launch them from everywhere. That land is why there wont be peace any time soon. Israel needs to prove it is really looking for peace. Because until they prove that to me, I don't want a dime of our tax dollars going to help them expand their nation at the expense of another people.
I will not be part of such a thing.
The only way to achieve peace in that region is to turn Israel loose and annihilate the a$$holes.
While we're at it, US citizens demand the UN withdraw from their pricy building on the East River and move back to their under developed countries immediately!!!
Excuse me but who abdicated and left this irrelevant UN panel in charge?
I'm sure Israel has their people moving because the UN idiots say so....
Close that place down and convert it to apartments... Make it worth something...!!
Personally, I think Israel should annex the West Bank and send the Arabs living there to Jordon, annex Gaza and send the Arabs living there to Egypt, and tell the other Arab countries (and their other buddies at the UN) to take a long walk off a short pier. Want to cut our budget? Start with subsidies to the UN. And why are we still in NATO? Oh, excuse me...to send Patriot batteries to Turkey to protect it from a looney in Syria. Silly me!
What a crock...The best thing the U.S. could do is to get a big chain saw and cut the property around the u n building loose, and tow the whole thing out to sea, and let it drift east !!
I agree with the UN, they must get out. They will never have peace as long as they are stealing land.
Israel has proven time and again they are not looking for peace, and its why the world must turn its back on Israel.
For once I agree with the UN. The Israeli's have pushed the settlements way too far. They have their own axe to grind, of course, but they must consider the average, every day Palestinians, too. Not the terrorists among them.
It's amazing that the UN is still even around. If the US and Israel agree they are the first to tout the findings of the UN but if we disagree then the UN is WRONG...not US ...not Israel... The WORLD has condemned Israel's settlements in the West Bank for years ...glad to see the UN taking this stand. Israel DOES NOT WANT PEACE with Palestine ..it wants to rule the Palestinians or to force them out of the West Bank altogether... if they really wanted peace and a two-state solution they wouldn't continue to build illegal settlements in the West Bank
it seems to me that what the germans did to the jews for 6 years the jews are doing to the palestinianes for the las 6o years get them out of the palestines land period
They have been playing the pity card the whole time too.
jim from mexico
What do you call it when the palestinianes start lobbing rockets into Israel? Friendly fun?
I call it retaliation for stolen land, and abuse. Israel forced their way into another country. The Arabs did not invite Israel. They took Israel. And because they TOOK (STOLE) land, they should be bending over backwards to make peace and pay restitution to the Arabs. Not keep expanding and starting skirmishes so you can use it as an excuse to steal more.
The Israeli's must go back to the 67 borders. They must make restitution with the Arabs, then there will be peace. And if they don't do that, then they prove to the world they don't want peace, and should be left on their own. No help from anyone.
MoreJustice
And if the UN says that the USA should go back to it's 1669 Boders you would agree?
@Times-Running-Out
lol... More Justice is probably not an American and wouldn't give a damn what borders the USA went back to.
The United Nations is a huge FARCE! The are a bunch of bigoted bureaucrats who are just like a catfish, ALL MOUTH and no brains.
If anyone believe Israel will listen too or abide by this joke of a ruling, you must live under a rock.
The U.S. needs to get OUT of the U.N., take our land in New York from them and tell them to locate in some other place. Give them an ultimatum to leave and then enforce it. We can STOP all of them from entering the U.S. any time we wish and diplomatic immunity doesn't apply then.
The UN is made up of all our Allies. The entire western world belongs to the UN and Nato. It would be wise for the US and Israel to take heed.
MoreJustice
NEWS FLASH...... Russia and China are not our "Allies" and the UN can't do SQUAT without the ok from the USA... Where the hell would they get their funds fromif it is not from the USA Tax Payers?
I didn't say our allies were the only members. I said all our allies are members. Along with most of the rest of the world. The international court has more teeth than you think, all those other countries don't have to do business with the US. The US lives off imports.
PS: The US is one of the furthest behind in its payments to the UN. US are way behind in their dues.