human rights council holds general debate on human rights situation in palestine and other occupied...

7/30/2019 Human Rights Council holds general debate on human rights situation in Palestine and other Occupied Arab Territo

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Human Rights Council holds general debate on human rights situation in Palestine and other Occupied

Arab Territories

AFTERNOON

26 September 2011

The Human Rights Council th is afternoon held a general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other Occupied Arab

Territories.

Bacre Ndiaye, Director of the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for

Human Rights, in introducing the two reports under the agenda item, said that Human Rights Council resolution 16/32 had requested

that the Secretary-General present a report on progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Fact-Finding

Mission on the Gaza conflict. The Secretary-Generals report had reviewed every recommendation of the Fact-Finding Mission and it

provided up-to-date information regarding the status of implementation of these recommendations. The Human Rights Counci l also

requested that the High Commissioner present a report on the implementation of resolution 16 /32. The High Commissioners report

had reviewed the key operative paragraphs of resolution 16/32 and provided information on action taken in response to the Councils

requests therein.

Israel did not take the floor as a concerned country.

Palestine, speaking as a concerned country, said the occupying power remained unabated in its violations of international law,

including the Geneva Conventions, determined to preserve its identity as a colonial apartheid power. On behalf of the Palestinian

peop le, Mahmoud Abbas had submitted Palestines application for membership to the United Nations last Friday, based on the

natural, legal and historical rights of the Palestinian people. The resumption of negot iations was a given, but without recognized

borders there would be no negotiations.

Syria, speaking as a concerned country, said Israel was continuing its Judification programme in the Syrian Golan and was

conduct ing the theft of water and territory. These were crimes against humanity. All of these crimes and aggressive acts had thus led

to the increased isolation of Israel by the peoples of the world. If the Human Rights Counci l wished to remain credible, it should notremain silent before a country that carried out massacres that United Nations observers had defined as war crimes.

In the general debate, speakers observed, among other issues, that dozens of countries supported the right of Palestinian people to

self- determination. It was time for the majority of the in ternational community to recognize the right to self-determination o f the

Palestinians and to al low Palestine to become a full fledged member of the United Nations. Some speakers said there was a long-

standing in ternational consensus recognizing the right to self-determination with Palestine as a State on the basis of the borders of 4

June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. One speaker energetically condemned that such an aspiration could be blocked by the

veto power of the permanent member of the Security Council which guaranteed Israels impunity. Such an action would reinforce the

status quo that was condemned session after session at the Council.

Speakers said the siege imposed on Gaza was a collective punishment which amounted to a war crime and States called upon the

Council and the relevant United Nations bodies to take necessary action to compel Israel to immediately li ft this illegal blockade.

The credibility of the Council and of the international human rights system was on the line. States remained concerned about theconstruction and expansion of settlements which represented a blatant violation of humanitarian law and an obstruction to the peace

process. It was important to reiterate the importance of implementing the recommendations con tained in the reports, in particular the

Fact-Finding Mission led by Judge Goldstone.

Speaking in the interactive dialogue were Egypt on behalf of the Arab Group, Senegal on behalf of the African Group, Egypt on

behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Pakistan on behalf of the Organizat ion o f the Islamic Conference, Switzerland, China, Saudi

Arabia, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Cuba, Kuwait, Maldives, Bangladesh, Qatar, Jordan, India, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Sri

Lanka, Brazil, Algeria,

Morocco, Iran, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Democratic Peoples Republ ic of Korea, Sudan, League of Arab States,

South Africa, Lebanon, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Venezuela, and Tunisia.

Also speaking were representatives of BADIL Resources Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Commission of the

Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, Al Haq Law in the Service of Man, Coordinated Board of JewishOrganizations, Hope International, Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour lAmitie

entre les Peuples, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de lHomme, Indian

Movement Tupaj Amaru, and United Nations Watch.

The next meeting of the Council will be on Tuesday, 27 September 2011 at 9 a.m., when it will hold a general debate on follow-up

and implementat ion of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The Council will also meet in private to consider its


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task and take responsibility and to allow the region to live in security and prosperity.

FAYSAL KHABBAZ HAMOUI (Syria), speaking as a concerned country, said the Human Rights Council was once again discussing

violations of human rights in Palestine and the occupied Syrian Golan. Following the murder of peace activists on the peace flotilla

the Israelis had shot at Syrians trying to recall the disaster of 1967 who were trying to return to their lands. For several weeks new

crimes had been committed. The Israeli authorities had built a racist separation wall separating the Golan from its mother nation. All

these actions confirmed the State terrorism carried out by Israel and the aggression against Arabs as a State policy. None of those

supporting Israel had called for a special session to protest the Israeli actions. Israel was above international legality. After 27 years

Israel was holding a prisoner of Syrian Golan whose only crime was to have burnt his Israeli identification papers. Israel was

conduct ing torture and claimed to be the only democracy in the region. Israel was continuing its Judification programme in Golan

and was conducting the theft of Palestinian water and territory. These were crimes against humanity. All of these crimes andaggressive acts had thus led to the increased isolation of Israel by the peoples of the world. This should help Israel understand that it

was perpetuating crimes of murder. If they wished to remain credible, the Human Rights Council should not remain silent before a

country that carried out massacres that United Nations observers had defined as war crimes. The few remaining countries that found

pretexts for Israel should not find pretexts and should convince the occupying power to stop its occupying territory and recognize the

Palestine State as the world would soon be recognizing the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders with the right of return and

Jerusalem as its capital .

General Debate

MAHMOUD AFIFI (Egypt), speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, said that Israel had flouted all resolutions adopted by various

United Nations bodies and had con tinued to violate all international human rights laws. Israel continued to refuse to cooperate with

the opinion o f the International Court of Justice on the security barrier wall. The Arab Group supported the establ ishment of an

independent Palestine State with East Jerusalem as its capital and the return of Palestinians to their homeland and property, which wastheir inalienable right. It was time for the majority of the international community to recognize the right to self-determination of the

Palestinians and to allow Palestine to become a full fledged member of the United Nations. The Arab Group cal led on Israel to cease

violations of human rights against the Palestinian people and reiterated its request to secure implementation of the recommendations

in the report on the Fact-Finding Mission in Gaza. The Israeli occupation authorities had consistently continued their violations of

the human rights of the citizens in the Occupied Golan, both on 15 May and 5 June, when agricultural land that belonged to Syrians

was confiscated to build a wall under the pretext to build a security line. The flagrant, systematic and massive violations of the

occupying power, Israel should not continue to be ignored.

BABACAR BA (Senegal), speaking on behalf of the African Group, said that the reports following up on the resolutions of the Human

Rights Council showed once again the continuing refusal of Israel to cooperate with implementing the recommendations made by the

Fact-Finding Mission on Gaza. The African Group was concerned by the deprivation of basic rights without justification and in

flagrant violation of all rules of in ternational law. The unlawfulness of the Gaza blockade was intolerable. The African Group had

always condemned the occupation of the Arab territories including the Occupied Territories in Palestine and in the Syrian Golan. Theinternational community should also take into account the recommendations to other States parties in the reports, including the

General Assembly, notably the convening of High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians

during times of war, the establishment of accounts to pay damage to Palestinian victims, and referral to the International Criminal

Court of crimes committed by the Israeli army. The African Group took note of the recent developments with Palestines request for a

Palestinian State with its capital as East Jerusalem and the right of return for refugees.

MAHMOUD AFIFI (Egypt), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said the Non-Aligned Movement registered a

persistent pattern of the non-cooperation of Israel in the implementation of recommendations. Justice delayed was justice was denied.

Two and a half years after the war in Gaza, the voices of victims and their families implored the in ternational community to stand

united against impunity and to ensure accountability . The Non-Aligned Movement stood at the forefront of support for the historic

march of the Palestinian peop le to realize freedom, peace and justice, in line with long standing in ternational consensus recognizing

their right to self-determination and Palestine as a State on the basis of the borders of June 4 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The violations of human rights in the Palestinian and Arab occupied territories were at the core of the Councils mandate. Historywould judge and evaluate to what extent the international community had or had not risen to the challenge and assumed its

responsibilities in th is regard. The credibil ity of the Council and of the international human rights system was on the line.

MARIAM MADIHA AFTAB (Pakistan), speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, said the Organization of

the Islamic Conference renewed their calls for the implementation of all recommendations contained in the report of the United

Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict as well as the conclusions of the Independen t International Fact-Finding Mission

on the floti lla. Israel had pursued a policy of wanton repression in Occupied Palestinian territories through the use of disproportionate

force, deliberate destruction of infrastructure, killing of civilians and eliminating the religious and cultural heritage of Palestine in

order to silence the voice of occupied Palestinians. The continuous flagrant violations by Israel of the legitimate and inalienable

rights of the Palestinian people and in particular the most fundamental right to life and the right to self-determination was a clear

violation of the United Nations Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The time had come for the international community to translate the recognized right of the

Palestinian people to self-determination into concrete steps through putting an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands andrecognizing the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders with Al-Quds el-Shareef as its capital and the return of Palestinian refugees

in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference condemned the ongoing illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian

territories and demanded that Israel stop the establishment and maintenance of the settlement. The Organization of the Islamic

Conference further demanded that Israel release all Palestinian p risoners, particularly children, women and members of the Palestinian


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parliament. Pakistan called upon Israel to immediately lift the siege imposed on the occupied Gaza Strip. The illegal blockade

imposed on Gaza by Israel was the first and the whole basis of ongoing violations. The siege imposed on Gaza was a collective

punishment which amounted to a war crime and the Organization of the Islamic Conference called upon the Counci l and the relevant

United Nations bodies to take necessary action to compel Israel to immediately lift this illegal b lockade. The human rights situation

in the occup ied Syrian Golan was also deteriorating as a result of the Israeli occupation which continued to violate the civil, political,

economic, social and cultural rights of the Syrian population. The Organization of the Islamic Conference had condemned the Israeli

measures in the occupied Syrian Golan and demanded an end to the illegal occupation of the Syrian land and the violations of

humanitarian and human rights law.

DANTE MARTINELLI (Switzerland) said Switzerland was strongly attached to the achievement of two States, Israel and Palestine,

living side by side in peace and security. Switzerland remained concerned about the construction and expansion of settlements whichrepresented a blatant violat ion of humanitarian law and an obstruction to the peace process. Settlers had been propagating violence

against Palestinian goods and properties and Israel should do everything to protect Palestinian citizens. Switzerland called for an end

to the ind iscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza which constituted a violation of international law and the Gaza authorities should do

everything they could to stop this action. Switzerland was concerned about the 30,000 Bedouins living in the Negev who had been

forcibly removed from their land and access to water. Switzerland expressed its concern about the West Bank Bedouins exclusively

under Israeli control who were subject to discrimination.

HOU PEI (China) said that China noted with regret that most o f the contents of the Secretary-Generals report had not been effectively

implemented. China supported calling the Councils attention to this issue. China condemned the occupation of Arab territory,

including East Jerusalem. China had always supported the Arab people of Palestine including in their inalienable right of the

founding of an independent State. China had always been in favour of a long lasting solution for the Middle East issue at an early

date. China was ready to work with the international community to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

ABDULWAHAB ABDULSALAM ATTAR (Saudi Arabia) said that the Council had been able to take an important action through the

resolution on the situation in Palestine, including the Gaza Strip and the consequences of the Israel aggression against the flotilla

bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Now it was important to reiterate the importance of implementing the recommendations contained

in the report, in particular the Fact-Finding mission led by Judge Goldstone. The population of the occupied Palestinian territories

continued to suffer from the illegal practices and unlawful measures taken by Israel, which constituted not only violations to the

United Nations Charter and international law but also undermined the possibilities for peace for which the in ternational community

was working. Israeli settlements and the annexation of East Jerusalem were against international law. Moreover, one of the main

obstacles for the peace agreement was the accelerated settlement process, including colonial practices and unlawful confiscation and

demolition of property. Saudi Arabia stressed that the most basic violation of human rights was occupation i tself. The international

community should take action to ensure respect for the Palestinian right to self-determination, step up efforts to stop Israels

settlement activities, and implement the relevant United Nations resolutions, for the establishment of an independent Palestinian

State with Al-Quds el-Shareef as its capital.

SITI HAJJAR ADNIN (Malaysia) said Malaysia reaffirmed the findings of the reports of the respective Fact-Finding Missions on the

Gaza conflict and on the humanitarian flotilla incident and renewed its support for the accountabil ity of perpetrators of human rights

violations, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Council had been actively pursuing the implementation

of the recommendations addressed to it by the Goldstone report and Malaysia was of the view that the Council should continue

following up on the implementation of the remaining recommendations of the Missions report. Malaysia noted with regret that other

United Nations organs, particularly the Security Council had not yet been able to act on the Missions recommendations. Malaysia

reiterated its call for the lifting of the blockade so that the inhabitants of Gaza could resume reconstruction and economic activities.

The continued construction of the illegal separation wall, the continued enforcement of civil and military policies by the occupying

power that appeared designed to inflict collective punishment, and ongoing attempts to alter the demographic character of the

occupied territories, among others warranted the Councils sustained consideration of the human rights situat ion there.

MIKHAIL LEBEDEV (Russian Federation) said the Russian Federation remained in principle in favour of a two-State solut ion. The

Russian Federation had been working and exerting efforts to bring this about. It was important to preserve an existing process for

negotiation of a settlement. Russia confirmed its position on the indivisibility of the occupied Palestinian land and the two-State

solution. Russia had recognized the Palestinian State long ago . Russia opposed unilateral use of force by Israel including the illegal

continued construction of the wall, the demolition of houses in East Jerusalem and the rejection of a just solution to the refugee

problem. Russia was ready to continue to cooperate including th rough the Quartet and stated its intent ion to hold a Moscow

conference on the Middle East. Concrete progress would only be possible if resumed negot iations had moved into a stable phase.

FRANK DIAZ DIAZ (Cuba) said that Israel continued to flaunt the decisions of the Council. It was unacceptable to see that Israel did

not want to cooperate with the in ternational missions established by the United Nations system and the Council in particular; it was

more embarrassing to see that after years of Israeli aggression in Gaza, the victims calls for justice remained unanswered. Occupation

continued to deprive the nat ion of Palestine of their fundamental rights, including self-determination . The situation required the

attention of the Council and its resolutions should be implemented. Cuba called for the recognition of an independent Palestinian

State on the basis of the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital, and for membership of Palestine at the United Nations. Finally

Cuba energetically condemned that such an aspiration could be blocked by the veto power of the permanent member of the Security

Council which guaranteed Israels impunity. Such an action would reinforce the status quo that was condemned session after session

at the Council.

SADIQ M.S. MARAFI (Kuwait) said that Kuwait supported the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to become an independent

State. The situation in Palestine was worsening because of the occupy ing power. The Counci l could no t remain silent while the

Palestinian people cont inued to suffer under the Judification of Jerusalem, illegal settlements and the theft of water resources. Israel


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should bring pressure to bear on Israel to allow Palestine to become an independen t State.

IRUTHISHAM ADAM (Maldives) quoted Thomas Jefferson "We surely cannot deny to any nation that right whereon our own

government is founded, that every one may govern itself according to whatever form it pleases and change these forms at its own

will. The Maldives and dozens of other countries supported the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The Maldives

called on all States to support Palestines bid for statehood. The blockade of Gaza was illegal and the Maldives called for the

implementation of all the recommendations contained in the Fact-Finding Mission to Gaza and the conclusions of the Fact-Finding

Mission on the flotilla.

NAHIDA SOBHAN (Bangladesh) said that the human rights situation in the occupied territories remained a concern because it was

deteriorating everyday. The people of Palestine were in a dire situation due to Israels blockades, confiscation of land, demolit ion ofhouses and new settlements in occupied territories which were contrary to the Geneva Conventions and other norms of international

law. The new settlements negated the inalienable right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their native land. The Council should

stand by the oppressed. The Palestinians had the right to live a life of dignity and enjoy all human rights like any other people. It was

deplorable that Israel had extended its atrocities into international waters, though its attack on the humanitarian flotilla.

Unfortunately, it appeared to be a col lective failure on the part of the international community and, more so, on the people of Israel,

who once suffered deprivation, as they failed to guarantee to the people of Palestine their fundamental rights. It was essential that the

Council took a clear and unequivocal stand on the flagrant defiance of international law, particularly on the violation of fundamental

human rights by Israel. Bangladeshs support for the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people for a sovereign and

independent homeland of their own was total and unflinching. Bangladesh thus welcomed the move by Palestinian leadership for an

independent sovereign State and recognizing the State of Palestine with its 1967 borders and with Al-Quds el-Shareef as its capital.

MANSOOR ALSULAITIN (Qatar) said Qatar reiterated the need to implement all the recommendations of the Fact-Finding Mission in

Gaza and the International Fact-Finding Mission on the Flotilla. Qatar appreciated the efforts made by the Government of Switzerlandwhich had sought to hold a Conference of the High Contracting Parities to the Geneva Convention to ensure respect for the

provisions in the Conven tion in the Occupied Territories, despi te resistance to this proposal. It was time for the international

community to ensure the full development of the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, including a right for their own State

with East Jerusalem as the capi tal and for Palestinian refugees to return in accordance with United Nations resolutions. Qatar fully

supported granting full membership for the State of Palestine by the United Nations. The central issue in the Middle East was the

issue of Palestine, which hung like a sword of war over the region. The international community must ensure that Israel implemented

all United Nations resolutions and recommendations and respected the human rights of Palestinians.

MUHIB MAHMOUD AHMAD NIMRAT (Jordan) said that in spite of the contents and recommendations of the two reports, Israel the

occupying power continued to violate international humanitarian law. Israeli practices based on settlement expansion should come to

and end and Israel should cease all practices that aggravated Palestinian suffering. The stalemate in the peace process could only feed

the feeling that carried a great threat to the region and regional stabil ity. Jordan supported the establishment of a contiguous and

viable Palestinian State. Israel must cease to create new rules on the ground to influence the final status. Expectations ran counter toall international efforts to obtain a lasting peace. Israel must cease the confiscation of private properties. Israeli practices continued to

be a blatant v iolation of international law and human rights. They must reach final status negotiations within a set time frame.

Translating this into reality was the collective responsibil ity of the international community. They must put an end to the Israeli

occupation.

GOPINATHAN ACHAMKULANGARE (India) said that it was regrettable that little progress had been made in the implementation of

the Missions recommendations since the last report during the fifteenth session of the Council. India noted with considerable regret

that border closures and restrictions on passage through border-crossings with the Gaza Strip continued to have serious adverse effects

on the livelihoods and infrastructure and that freedom of movement within the occupied Palestinian territory remained severely

restricted. Indias deep association and continuing commitment to Palestine was rooted in history that went back to its struggle for

independence. India was vitally interested in peace, development and stability in the region and stood ready to assist in whatever way

it could . Ultimately, however, it was the parties themselves that had to shoulder the major responsibility for achieving a permanent

and lasting solution. There had to be a spirit of accommodation and po litical will to achieve a just and comprehensive peace. At thesame time, human rights standards and international humanitarian law were universal and should be respected by all sides. India

encouraged all parties concerned, including the Palestinian armed groups, to give due regard to the recommendations and implement

them in right earnest, in order to make a difference to the human rights situation on the ground.

DESRA PERCAYA (Indonesia) said Indonesia took note of the two reports and it was clear that much remained to be done on the

long awaited escrow fund for the reparations of Palestinians and families that had suffered during the loss and damage as a result of

unlawful acts attributable to the occupying power during the military operations conducted from December 2008 to January 2009.

Indonesia was concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement of the Palestinian authorities and the over 5,000 Palestinians

detained in Israeli prisons. The human rights situation in the Occupied Territories continued to be a concern for Indonesia especial ly

as the situation had further worsened. The practice of settlements in the West Bank was a violation of human rights law. Indonesia

called on the occupying power to fully implement all recommendations in the two reports.

AGUSTIN SANTOS MARAVER (Spain) said resumption of negotiations was a must. All civilians were entitled to security. Followingrecent events in the region Spain had emphasized that international humanitarian law must be respected by all. High Commissioner

for Human Rights Navi Pillay was concerned about the lack of accountability on many fronts. Spain called on all parties to ensure the

principle of accountability was upheld. Spain believed that the construct ion of settlements including in East Jerusalem was illegal

according to in ternational law. Spain called on the Israeli side to appropriately investigate settler violence against Palestinians. Spain

renewed the call for the release of Gilad Shalit. Spain remained concerned about conditions of interrogation and detention of minors.

Spain was concerned about Israeli settlements on illegally occupied land.


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LAURA MIRACHIAN (Italy) said having in mind the statement of the Quartet in New York last week, Italy emphasized the

importance of striving to create the conditions for resumption of negotiations and the creation of a lasting peace. Building on those

parameters and restoring mutual trust between the parties driven apart by years of conflict and human tragedy was the priority today.

Further delay would prolong the current uncertainty. Further delays would jeopardize rather than promote peace. Italy was pleased to

hear the willingness to engage in the statements made by representatives of the two parties last week.

OGUZ DEMIRALP (Turkey) said that the Human Rights Council had to accept the legit imate call of Palestinians to have their own

State. The Palestinian bid for statehood could not be evaluated separately from the context of the ongoing democratic transformation

in the region. Due to the intransigent approach of Israel towards the parameters of a meaningful peace process, Palestinians were left

with no option other than searching for their right to statehood at the United Nations. Recognizing the Palestinian State was anobligation of the international community at large. The Fact Finding Mission last year on the illegal blockade against Gaza

reaffirmed the well-established fact that this blockade was illegal, a conviction that was endorsed by both the Human Rights Council

and the United Nations General Assembly. Turkey called upon the Human Rights Counci l and all relevant United Nations bodies to

take necessary action to compel Israel to immediately lift this illegal blockade. The occupation of the Syrian Golan should also come

to an end at once.

TAMARA KUNANAYAKAM (Sri Lanka) said addressing the General Assembly the President of Sri Lanka had expressed a profound

disappointment that the Palestinian people had not been able to realize their right to a State of their own despite repeated expressions

of support by many countries. The blockade of Gaza by Israel created critical concern for the situation of the civilian population. To

achieve lasting peace and justice for the Palestinian people, Israel must proceed with the liberation of all polit ical prisoners and put

an end to all illegal settlement activities, including the continued campaign of colonization that had resulted in the fragmentation of

the Palestinian territories.

MARIA NAZARETH FARANI AZEVEDO (Brazil) thanked the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for their reports and

indicated that more needed to be done to implement recommendations of the Goldstone report. Occupation remained the main cause

of human rights violations in Palestine. The situation in Gaza remained of great concern and Brazil called upon Israel to lift the

blockade and allow for free transit. Brazil also urged both parties to refrain from violent measures and retaliation. The International

Red Cross and Red Crescent conference would provide an opportunity to increase respect for international human rights and

international humanitarian law. The President of Brazil, Dilma Rouseff, had said last week that it was high time for Palestine to be

recognized as an independent State. Only an independent State could lead to the prosperity of the Palestinian people and peace in the

region. It was time to ask whether the p resent strategies were working, whether they were working to improve Israels security or the

lives of Palestinians. The present strategies were not working for Israelis, for Palestinians, nor for the region.

IDRISS JAZAIRY (Algeria) said that this debate came at a time when Palestine had made an historic request at the United Nations,

which Algeria fully supported. Algeria regretted that the occupying power had not implemented the recommendations of the Fact-

Finding Mission on Gaza, or on the flotilla incident , findings which had already been adopted by the Human Rights Counci l. Algeria

was concerned about the deportation of thousands of Bedouins from their homeland who were under the full control of Israel.

OMAR HILALE (Morocco) said the prevention of the creation of an independent Palestinian State was a violation of international

law. In Jerusalem there was a resistance of attempts to Judicize the city and expel the Palestinian population. The Government of

Morocco and i ts King supported Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine and its cultural heritage. Morocco supported the creation of a

Palestinian State and the creation of a time table for the realization of the peace process.

SYED MOHAMMAD REZA SAJJADI (Iran) said that the international community and the Counci l could not and shou ld not remain

silent any longer and the time had come for recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination by putting an end

to the long-lasting occupation. Iran strongly condemned the illegal settlement colonization campaign, the unrelenting illegitimate

blockade of the Gaza Strip, the detention and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians including political prisoners, women and

children and all o ther measures of collective punishment including the use of disproportionate force which resulted in the massacre of

civilians, and the deliberate destruction of infrastructure, in particular the annihilation of the religious and cultu ral heritage of

Palestine. There was an urgent task for the Council to take concrete measures to force the occupier to immediately li ft the siege

imposed on the occupied Gaza Strip. Iran strongly believed that the illegal blockade imposed on Gaza was a clear example of a war

crime.

BUDOOR ABDULAZIZ AHMED (Bahrain) said that Bahrain welcomed Palestines application for full membership in the United

Nations. The refusal by Israel to recognize the Palestinian right to sel f-determination and the cont inued acts of violence on

Palestinians by Jewish settlers were all violations of Palestinian human rights. Bahrain called upon the Human Rights Council to take

all measures to compel Israel to end the blockade of Gaza so that the Palestinians could enjoy their full human rights. Bahrain said

that a just and comprehensive peace with Israel could only be achieved with a full withdrawal by Israel from all Arab territories,

including the Syria Golan.

MAHMOUD AFIFI (Egypt) said a moral ob ligation was needed to guarantee that the violations of human rights by Israel were not

repeated. The international community must not tolerate human rights violations and violations of humanitarian law that had been

seen in the war against Gaza. The suffering of the Palestinian people had increased because of the lack of a possibility of a peacebeing brokered, and the lack of a calendar or time frame for obtaining an independent State. It did not make sense that the wave of

freedom that had swept the Middle East should not affect Palestinians.

YAHYA ALWIHAIBI (Oman) said that the situation of human rights in Palestine and other occupied territories was deteriorating due

to violations to the most basic principles of human rights, including excessive force against civilians. This required prompt action

and investi ation b this Council. Oman su orted the reco nition of a Palestinian State on the basis of the 1967 borders and with


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Jerusalem as its capital. Negotiations should be based on clear goals, ending conflict on the basis of a two-State solution, and

counting with a concrete timeline. Oman called on the international community to take all possible measures to stop aggression and

perpetration o f crimes against humanity, and ensure the li fting of the blockade and free transit for Palestin ians. The international

community should shoulder its responsibilit ies towards the Palestinian people and the fulfillment of United Nations resolutions in

order to achieve a settlement that ensured peaceful coexistence in the region.

OBAID SALEM SAEED AL ZAABI (United Arab Emirates) said the report from the Fact-Finding Mission had shed light on the

serious human rights violations of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip since 2009. The Human Rights Council must deal with the

violations of human rights committed by Israel against the Palestinian people so as to put an end to the days of double standards.

Peace in the Middle East was an indivisible package, it was a whole and the issue of the Palestinian people had to be addressed with

their right to statehood with East Jerusalem as their capital.

KIM YONG HO (Democratic Peoples Republic o f Korea) said the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea condemned the unilateral

and unlawful measures of Israel, the occupying power, aimed at changing the status and demographic composition of the occupied

Palestinian territories. Human rights violations in the Syrian Golan remained another grave concern and the Democratic Peoples

Republic of Korea particularly denounced measures aimed at altering the legal, physical and demographic status of the occupied

Syrian Golan.

OMAIMA ALSHARIEF (Sudan) said that Sudan had taken note o f the reports and was concerned by flagrant v iolations to

international law, international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by Israel in the occupied territories,

and the refusal of Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the building of a wall in Palestine.

Sudan called for granting the Palestinian people their basic and legitimate right to self-determination through the establishment of a

Palestinian State on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as their capital. Sudan condemned the systematic

violations committed by the Israeli occupation against the rights of the Syrians in the Syrian Golan, including the confiscation ofproperty .

SAAD ALFARARGI, of the League o f Arab States, said in spite of the multip le resolutions taken by the United Nations, Israel

continued to defy international legality by committing crimes and aggression against the unarmed civilians in Gaza. The

fundamental humanitarian and basic human rights of the Palestinians were violated by Israel. The Arab Initiative and Peace Summit

in 2002 were historic calls for peace if Israel would withdraw from all Arab territory so that there could be the creation of a Palestinian

State with East Jerusalem as the capital and to honour the right of return of Palestinians to their land. The League of Arab States called

for accountability and would not accept impunity by Israel of the human rights violations it had committed against the Palestinian

peop le.

ABDUL SAMAD MINTY (South Africa), said two years had passed since the Human Rights Council considered the report of the Fact-

Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict. With great disappointment South Africa had reviewed the implementation of the

recommendations of the report. There had been minimal progress while the siege on Gaza continued to in flict untold suffering on thePalestinian people. South Africa called on the international community to ensure that the General Assembly implemented the

recommendations contained in the report.

BACHIR SALEH AZZAM (Lebanon) condemned the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in the occupied territories

as a result of Israeli occupation and practices. The attempts to change the original character of Jerusalem through forced settlement

continued to prompt violations to international law on the ground. Lebanon supported the recognition of a Palestinian State with Al-

Quds el-Shareef as its capital and the rightful Palestinian quest for recognit ion as a State and full membership to the United Nations,

which deserved the support from all Member States. Lebanon would like to see Palestine become not only a member of the United

Nations, but also a member of this Council . At the same time the international community was called upon to urge Israel to respect

human rights and to act in accordance to the rules of international law, in particular, international humanitarian law.

SLIMANE CHIKH, of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had set a sad record as the

longest ongoing conflict since the end of the Second World War. Last week, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation adopted a

document on behalf of the Palestinians after being addressed by the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Abbas who explained

that he had made the request for Palestinian statehood to the United Nations only after exhausting all efforts to reach a peaceful

negotiation on Palestinian statehood with Israel. Israels obstructive policies could not continue and the unconditional support it

received from allied powers in the Human Rights Council had prevented Israel from being held accountable for its human rights

violations against the Palestinian people.

FELIX PENA RAMOS (Venezuela) said the situation in Palestine had not been resolved in the last 63 years. Venezuela would like to

express support to the inal ienable right of Palestinians to self-determination and a free sovereign independent State with East

Jerusalem as it capital. Venezuela condemned the use of force against the defenseless Palestinian people. Venezuela hoped justice

would be done. The United States indication of their potential use of their veto in the Security Council to stop something that the

world was calling for was anachronistic.

HAMADI GHORBEL (Tunisia) said that this meeting took place at a moment when the Palestinian people found themselves at a

decisive and historic turning point . Tunisia had supported the Palestinian people in their quest out of the current crisis and towardsthe creation of an independent and stable State, with Al-Quds el-Shareef as its capital, and to enjoy full membership to the United

Nations. Tunisia took note of the report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Fact-Finding Mission. While

recognizing the need to fully implement these recommendations, Tunisia condemned the violations of the most basic human rights

committed against the Palestinians, including the policies of blockade and forced settlement in Al-Quds el-Shareef. Tunisia called

upon the Council to live up to its responsibility and ensure respect for international law and to promote justice and peace in the


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MUNIR NUSEIBAH, of BADIL Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, said that since the Human Rights

Council began its Fact-Finding Mission on Gaza and its efforts to achieve accountability , the situation in Gaza had deteriorated

significantly. BADIL reminded Member States of their responsibili ty to ensure accountability by referring to the Fact-Finding

Mission Report to the Security Council and encouraging Member States to support Switzerland, as the depositary of the Geneva

Convent ions, to convene a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to affirm the applicability of the Conventions to the Occupied

Palestinian Territories. BADIL said that Member States should con tinue to support the establ ishment of an escrow fund to compensate

Palestinian victims and survivors.

ANNE-MARIE VUIGNIER-JAMES, of Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches,

expressed its concern about the increasing large-scale evictions and demolitions in the area covering more than 60 per cent of theWest Bank and controlled by Israel, known as Area C. Around 300,000 Jewish settlers currently lived in illegal settlements in Area C

versus around 150,000 Palestinians. The military authorities imposed serve restrictions on Palestinian constructions and less than 1

per cent of the zone was available for Palestinian development. A de facto Israeli takeover of Area C would have profound

implications for a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel should immediately stop demolishing Palestinian owned

structures in Area C and implement a fair and equitable system of water distribution that provided for the needs of Palestinian

communities in Area C. Policy makers and international donors should support projects that promoted con tinued Palestinian l ife in

Area C.

NATALIE TABAR, of Al Haq Law in the Service of Man, said the Palestin ian application had rejuvenated the struggle for self-

determination and the pursuit of accountability. The failure of the international community to implement the recommendations of the

United Nations Fact-Finding Mission report on the Gaza conflict had reinforced the perception that Palestinians were unprotected by

international law.

KLAUS NETTER, of Coordinated Board of Jewish Organizations, warned against the Councils oft-repeated practice of calling for

inquiries with one-sided mandates that prevented cooperation by both sides of a dispute to be examined. In this case, as in the past,

the resultant loss of credibility from such exercises was not Israel, but, regrettably, the Council.

MIREILLE BARBIER, of Hope International , said that Hope International called itself hope and stood for hope for a new generation,

for the hope of a better future, a life in dignity and peace. What prospects did young people in Palestine have? What property did they

have access to and what guarantees did they have for its protection when they were expelled from their land? The right to property if

it was not certain would not allow populations to settle down and live. Israel said it wanted peace. It could aim for peace by

withdrawing its troops and military forces from the Palestinian land. On behalf of human rights, the right to development and the

Millennium Development Goals, Hope International said it did not ask Israel to help non-governmental organizations but simply not

to prevent them to work for the promotion of peace.

GOLSHAN PAZHOOH, of Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, said that the veto power in the Security Council shouldnot prevent the Council from pursing the rights and demands of the Palestinians, which included the recogni tion of the most basic

human rights stipulated in the United Nations Charter, the right to self-determination for the Palestinian peop le; taking the necessary

measures for the return of millions of Palestinian refugees to their homeland; putt ing an end to the imprisonment of more than 1.5

million people through the unlawful blockade in the Gaza Strip; putting an end to the policy of settlements constructions which were

a clear and manifest violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and the real prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators of

crimes against civilians. The Arab Spring had b rought an atmosphere and opportunity for the legitimate demands of the Palestinian

peop le to be pursued in a more logical and just basis.

GIANFRANCO FATTORINI, of Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour lAmitie entre les Peuples, said that no other State in the world

other than Israel had been able to violate with absolute impunity. The Palestinian people had been the victim of the colonial

apartheid pol icy of the State of Israel. The United States assured political and military support to Israel in spite of its human rights

violations against the Palestinian people.

LAILA MATAR, of Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, said that other avenues for improving the situation of Palestinians had

failed and the last 13 years of negotiations had done little to improve the situation of Palestinians. Why were States that were strong

supporters of the statehood of Kosovo now opposing the statehood of Palestine? The Cairo Institute for Human Rights called on all

Members States of the Human Rights Council and the United Nations to recognize the State of Palestine, pursuant to its right to self-

determination.

BIRO DIAWARA, of Recontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de lhomme, said that the recommendations and plans drawn up by

experts for the Palestinian people had not been in line with the needs of these people. They called on both parties to promote

dialogue for inter Palestinian and Israeli cooperation because only through dialogue and cooperation would peace and security be

achieved.

LAZARO PARY, of Indian Movement Tupaj Amaru, in a joint statement with World Peace Counci l, said that colonial powers had

arbitrarily partitioned Palestine and created a Jewish State with more than 50 per cent of Palestinian territory in 1948. The United

Nations that was responsible for this unfair partit ion should now recognize the self-determination of the Palestinian people. Doublestandards and hypocrisy existed in the response of the United States and the European Union concerning the claim for Palestinian

statehood at the United Nations.

ALEXIA BEDAT, of United Nations Watch, lamented that the Council met today under the only agenda item that targeted a specific

country. This had been noted by the United Nations Secretary-General who had lamented the Council decision to single out a

articular countr iven the human ri hts violations takin lace around the world. Leadin democracies had s oken out on that


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day, including the European Union, United States, Australia and Canada. No Member State had explained how this agenda item was

coherent with the principles of non-selectivity and balance; and that the language in the item was unbalanced.

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human rights council holds general debate on human rights situation in palestine and other occupied...

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