UN Human Rights rapporteur underscores Israeli occupation is the first cause of violence
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/28/2002

Special rapporteur of the United Nations human rights commission on the occupied Palestinian territories, John Dugard, said the first reasons and causes of violence and human rights breaches in these territories are the Israeli occupation and insisted that the only means to stop the violence is to end occupation.

Presenting his report at the 58th session of the human rights commission, Dugard first recalled how the Jewish state refused to recognize his mandate, which compelled him to undertake only two missions in the territories.

The report, a testimony to the responsibility of the Israeli forces and state in the violence and other breaches in the occupied Palestinian territories, cites the extension of Jewish settlements and the destruction of Palestinian houses as major actions by Israel that considerably worsened the situation. Furthermore, restrictions to the Palestinians' freedom of movement, consecutive to the sealing off of Palestinian territories and the increase of military controls, are seriously disrupting the daily life of Palestinians and causing serious economic and social problems in the territories. Presently, he said over 50% of Palestinians are living below the poverty line.

He explained that the acts conducted by Palestinians are the result of their opposition to the Israeli military occupation.

The special rapporteur also argued that the only way to end violence and guarantee the respect of human rights is conducting negotiations that will lead to the end of Israeli military occupation and the implementation of the vision contained in the UN security council resolution 1397, which provides for the co-existence of two states inside safe and recognized borders. This will only be made possible by an international protection force to monitor and reduce the use of force, he insisted.

Dugard's remarks were met by a virulent response from the Israeli ambassador who accused him of bias against his country.

After he denied any pre-conceived ideas against Israel, the UN rapporteur said he was only prompted by his concern over the situation of human rights in the region and called Israel, which claims to be attached to the rule of law, to give answers and remarks to facts mentioned in the report.

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