Human rights report on 'appalling' conditions for ordinary Palestinians
Palestine-Israel-UN, Politics, 9/27/2006

Describing a "tragic" human rights situation for ordinary Palestinians living in the occupied territory, an independent UN expert yesterday presented his report to the newly established Human Rights Council, sparking criticism from the Israeli representative that the work was one-sided and imbalanced.

John Dugard, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, said that he wished to speak only about Israeli actions against ordinary, non-militant, non-activist Palestinians who simply wanted to lead a good life, educate their children and enjoy the basic amenities of life.

The human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory had deteriorated since 2001, and was intolerable, appalling, and tragic for ordinary Palestinians, he was reported as saying by a press release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

In response, Israeli Ambassador Itzhak Levanon said there could be no value in a report that follows a one-sided and imbalanced mandate that did not conform to the reality on the ground and which prejudged key issues. He said that, like its predecessors, it was characterized by errors of omission as well as distortions of both fact and law, a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) here on Wednesday said.

While it had been Israel's intention to disengage from Gaza only to return to it, clearly Israel had the fundamental right and duty to defend and protect its citizens, Levanon said, adding that any Palestinian government should renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept existing Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Also speaking on behalf of a "concerned country," Palestinian representative Mohammad Abu-Koash thanked the rapporteur for his report and warned that the Middle East was in turmoil while no genuine effort had been expended to address its root cause, namely, ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese territories.

Previous Stories:
  Abbas on Quartet, UNSC to reactivate UN Resolutions   (9/14/2006)
  UN called to compel Israel to cease military attacks   (8/31/2006)

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