UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel's construction of settlements in East Jerusalem
The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution condemning Israel's continued construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) including East Jerusalem, United Nations Radio reported.
The resolution said the expansion of Israeli settlements was not only in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations resolutions, but also undermines the efforts of the international community to advance the Middle East peace process.
The Israeli Ministry Of Foreign Affairs said today that the resolution adopted today in Geneva by the United Nations Human Rights Council has no connection to the safeguarding of human rights. As a democratic country, Israel will continue its internal inquiry procedures, out of its commitment to the rule of law and moral values.
It continued saying that Israel will continue to realize its right to protect its citizens, while at the same time maintaining the strictest moral standards.
The resolution condemning the construction of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was adopted by 46 Member States of the UN Human Rights Council. Only the United States of America voted against the resolution, which called on Israel to reverse its settlement policy in the occupied territories. Speaking on behalf of the resolution sponsors, Pakistani representative Zamir Akram said Israeli settlement activity was a major obstacle to the peace process and to the creation of an independent and democratic Palestinian state.
The operative paragraphs welcome the international community's reaffirmation that settlements, the separation barriers were built on occupied lands, demolition of homes and evictions are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to the peace and threaten to make a two state solution impossible. Condemns and deplores the new Israeli announcements on the construction of new settlements including in and around occupied East Jerusalem particularly the recent announcement to build 1,600 new units in East Jerusalem and calls upon the government of Israel to immediately reverse its decision.
The Human Rights Council has also adopted a resolution, which suggests that Israel should pay Palestinian reparations for loss and damages suffered during the Israeli military offensive into the Gaza strip in January 2009.
