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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Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank violate Palestinian human rights and must be withdrawn, United Nations investigators said Thursday — a move described by observers as "unprecedented."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:
Israel faces European backlash over decision to expand settlements
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:
it seems to me what the germans did to the jews for 6 years the jews have been doing to the palestinans for the last 6o years get them off the west bank seems like all you people cant remember your history lessons or have they changed how they teach that period of history?????
jim from mexico
Go Back to Mexico and work on your own country... The last I heard they were not in the best of shape to begin with.
Your racism is really helpful to this discussion. You must be a conservative.
Oh no...the race card.
jim from mexico..............
You seem to be able to recall the history of about 80 years ago when the Nazis in Germany sought to exterminate the Jews......but just WHO is Israel trying to exterminate? You've got a flimsy memory, Jocko, to forget that the Arabs have tried to exterminate the Israelis ever since the re-establishment of Israel in 1948. Face it, Jim, the West Bank is now part of Israel and the U.N. better mind their own damn business. They should know by now that when you mess with Israel, you will get your ass kicked.
As for Syria and Iran, if they or even Iran's friend, Russia, should dare to attack Israel, they will be looking at nuclear devastation. Compare the size on the map of Israel to their enemies that surround them. Do you think for one minute that Israel WON'T respond with nuclear weapons?
Oh yes, all those WWII stories about Jews blowing themselves up in German Cities. There will be no peace until Palestinians love their children more than they hate the Jews.
toastedrebel and tuort
There was NOTHING in that comment that was rasicts... You must be Libs... Everything to you is racist...
I don't care if the poster was from England, France or anywhere... He is talking about Jews and you have no problem with that.... Not everyone in Israel is Jewish....
And it is NAME that says he is From Mexico... I never did.
I seem to remember the Germans forcing all the Jews into a ghetto, walled in. After taking their property.
Hey "More Justice" I realize this doesn't fit your moronic view of history but the Jews never attacked the Germans. The land you refer to was won during a war started by Arab Nations. Try reading your history before you spout it. Israel is under no obligation to the United Nations to give back land it won during war.
Times:
im is right. You go to the land God promsied you.
UN resolution. You must move a half a million people. The USA took land from the Indians, Mexico and kicked out England. The same thing Israel did after they were attacked numerous times. What happened to the UN resolution when they stated the cut throat Hamas must stop firing rockets and they kept shooting thousands of missiles into Israel. This went on for years. The UN is a joke. You must stop shooting down folks in the streets, Syria and Iran. Did they stop? No. They are a worthless Organization which has NEVER been United. Billions of your tax dollars has been thrown to the winds over the past 60 years over the UN. What does it do for you? What does it do for people? It is there so whatever country in the World to push forth their own agenda and the hell what anyone wants or what is right or wrong. If Palestine wants that territory they will have to fight and kill for it like everyone else has done for the past 10,000 years of Mankind. Sounds horrible but that's exactly the way it has been forever. Hopefully they will find a way to Peace but I am not holding my breathe. Hatred is extreme toward others especially in that area.
That was made illegal under international law, after ww2. Everything Israel has done since, has been illegal under international law. And the US has been ignoring that fact. War of aggression is illegal, stealing land is illegal. What the US did to the Indians, and what other nations have done in the past, has been deemed wrong.
The US used to stand for peace.
The UN isn't "worthless"! They have quite a lot of "worth" actually. We give them BILLIONS each year! What a crock!
MoreJustice
BS... When they were attacked in 1967... Are you saying the should not have defended themselves? Amd how do you think We got the country we are now living in... You think the American Indians just say Welcome... Here take our land we don't need it anyways...
Of course they should defend themselves. Stealing land and using it as an excuse to expand, is more than defending yourself. Israel is suppose to be seeking peace. They owe the Arabs for the land they occupy, including the land before 67. Arabs did not invite Israel there, the world force Israel on the Arabs. So you know, I see the Arabs having a legitimate gripe, where as the Israelis having nothing to gripe about. They should be thankful they get any help at all.
So let me get this straight; if you win a war, it is your logic that the land of the loser is yours. So by that logic, the U.S. now owns Iraq, Afganistan, Grenada, the Philipines, Japan, Nicarargua to name a few. So lets not bring any world recognized authority into this, lets just say if you win by aggression, the land is yours. So what happens if Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Jordan, ect ect gain more a powerful military and invade and conquer Israel. Then, also by your logic, we should sit back and say "sucks to be them, they lost". Just don't play this both ways. If Israel gets attacked, so be it. If they can't defend themselves, so what. Just don't use my tax money to pay for Israels defense.
US was wrong and Jews ar wrong also. US tried to fix best it can. Israeli is not.
The UN should levee economic sanctions against Israel. Put in a Blockade, the same as the Israeli's have done to Gaza.
MoreJustice
Ya know, you could save a bunch of finger boneing if you just posted "I Hate Jews" each time you entered something... Every post you have made so far is saying that.
Right!!!! A U.N. Blockade of Israel. Now whose ships should they use for target practice. Russia maybe? Hey that could actually work. Been a while since we have been able to legitimately shoot at Russian warships. That might be entertaining.
I don't hate Jews, but as usual you pull the race card.
I would like you to know, my great grandmother was a German Jew.
I don't approve of what Israel and the US are doing. Period. They are not seeking peace, and people are dying. I know WRONG when I see it, do YOU.
If my great-grandmother was a bicycle I still wouldn't be able to win the Tour D France.
I don't imagine you as the athletic type.
If I were Israel...I'd tell those UN hypocrites to go #*@+! themselves...in a yiddish sort of way.
Well one can't ask for help from the UN and then turn around and not follow their decision. Moving all those people now is a huge logistical endeavor.
Well, those settlers can live as Palestinians citizens if they want to.
I am sure Palestinians will treat them as equal citizens.
I'm sure they won't do that - but I do see this taking forever (if at all) to accomplish. I'm not surprised the French are directly involved in this mandate.
Palestinians claiming human rights violations. That is comical!
Keep up the Good work My Israel...stand your ground..you have offered the olive branch so many times.. I wish you Peace and Great Victory. Enough is Enough!
Isreal to u n.....make me.
Lol
It is way past time for the United States to put the idea of this country being "IN" the UN, just a straight up and down vote. THEN we can get OUT of all those other countries and be in the ones our citizens support. Those Arab places, the orientals and others are just not a place for us to be. Israel needs to tell the UN to go to hell.
Wow, the United Nations sides with the Palestinians...now there is a newsflash!
Rachel Corrie ftw
So Israeli's aren't allowed to live in Palestine?? That's BS. By the way, Mexico must withdraw all its citizens from the US lol
I can't wait for the UN to get kicked out of the US. It is a corrupt and criminal organization controlled by primitive countries.
Oh look. The UN said something critical about Israel. In other news, the sun rises. The UN is George Orwell's worst nightmare.
I've got an idea. Lets blockade the U.N until they stop squatting on our land. Sounds like a fair exchange.
The problem with Isreal is they can never admit when they are wrong.
And the problem with the world is that they can never admit that they're wrong in regard to Israel.
The palestinians don't recongnize Israel's right to exist anywhere in the region, they are constantly smuggling in weapons to wage an aggressive war, not one of self defense, and yet it's somehow Israel who is to blame. Makes no sense, much like the UN creating this report instead of dealing with real problems like Syria and a potential nuclear Iran.
In 1948 the UN developed a plan for the creation of independent Arab and Jewish States.The Plan was accepted by the leaders of the Jewish community in Palestine, through the Jewish Agency. The Plan was rejected by leaders of the Arab community, including the Palestinian Arab Higher committee. Immediately after adoption of the Resolution by the General Assembly, a Civil War broke out. The new State of Israel had to defend attacks from Arab Entities and Israel was successful. Palestine had their chance and blew it. History shows Arabs can't get along with each other much less other Nations
Give me a break. Let the UN do something about the killing of people in Syria and forget about the settlements in Israel. The article does not even mention that Asma Jahangir, one of the authors of the report, is a Pakastani. Now what was she going to say but that Israel should leave. The authors are about as biased as one can get. These people keep attacking Israel with rockets and suicide bombers (no value for human life) and the UN condemns Israel. Talk about human rights. Do not the Israeli citizens have the right to go about their daily lives without fears of rockets falling on them from people who seem to only want the total destruction of the State of Israel.
Yes, they absolutely have the right and expectations to be able to live without fear of rockets. but, you would have to admit, building even more settlements doesn't exactly help with that. And yes, I would like to see stronger condemnation of the attacks on Israel. Its like the Palestinians attack, and when Israel responds, they are the bad guys.
There would be less defensiveness after such reports if there were more such reports blaming the Palestinians for the two peace deals they turned down, for all the attacks on civilians, for not recognizing Israel's right to exist, for brain washing children to hate Israel, and for using civilians as human shields. Once the UN reports with equal weight on those factors, Israel will take a report like this seriously.
"Heil [Netanyahu]"
Good to see the spirit of Nuremberg is still alive and well in the victims the tribunal convened to protect.
So, if we didn't repel Iraq from Kuwait, then it would have been ok for Iraq to "claim" Kuwait?Survival of the fittest type deal?
Boy, and I thought it was wrong to squat and claim a foreclosed house as your own!
The hypocrisy is amazing, isn't it.
Ah but were not the occupied lands in Israel really only occupied after the Arabs attacked Israel way back when they were declared a state.
I haven't seen anything come out of the U N for the past couple of years. The U S ought to get ought of the U N and quit giving them money and take care of Our own problems.
The UN needs to STFU and just try to survive even one year without US support. The U N is anti-US and really anti-any real Democratic nation. This garbage goes on and on, and our liberal US gov supports anything that might destroy our country. I say get out of the US now, and start a real Democratic organization.
Opps I forgot to say anything good ought of U N.
Syria is killing it's civilians right now. Arab Africans are killing fellow Africans right now. Saudia Arabia is denying rights to women right now. Iran is preventing journalists from speaking the truth right now. Iran, Syria, Hezballah and Hamas, are engaged in weapons smuggling to use against the Jewish state right now.
And yet the world focuses on houses.
Were this not Israel, the Palestinians would've have a snow ball's chance in hell of getting any attention to their cause. But because it's the Jewish state, the one and only Jewish state, they are the darlings of the world. The Kurdish population is much larger than the Palestinians and yet they don't have a state. Turkey is not paraded around the UN or the focus of reports. Why? Because they're not Jews.
When the world ends its fixation with the Jews, they can begin to focus on the real problems.
Talk and occupy, especially the high ground, make a two state solution impossible. Strategy seems to be working