UPDATED ON:
Saturday, December 13, 2008
14:52 Mecca time, 11:52 GMT
 
News Middle East
UN attacks Israeli rights 'crimes'
The delivery of essential aid to Gaza has been stemmed by the Israeli blockade [AFP]

Israel's policies against the Palestinians are tantamount to a "crime against humanity", the United Nations' human rights rapporteur has said.

Richard Falk said in a statement on Tuesday that the UN must "implement the agreed norm of a responsibility to protect a civilian population being collectively punished by policies that amount to a crime against humanity".

The statement came on the same day that the UN Human Rights Council urged Israel to implement 99 measures to improve its rights record.

Falk said it would seem "mandatory" that the UN's International Criminal Court investigate Israel’s policies in regard to the Palestinians.

"[The court could] determine whether the Israeli civilian leaders and military commanders responsible for the Gaza siege should be indicted and prosecuted for violations of international criminal law," he said.

IN VIDEO


Human rights declaration 'under threat'

The Israeli government has faced a level of criticism by "normally cautious UN officials" not seen since the "the heyday of South African apartheid," Falk said.

"And still Israel maintains its Gaza siege in its full fury, allowing only barely enough food and fuel to enter to stave off mass famine and disease."

Israel has maintained tight controls on what supplies enter the Gaza Strip, home to about 1.5 million Palestinians, since Hamas, a Palestinian group, took control of it in June 2007.

The Israeli and US governments say that Hamas is a terrorist organisation.

Rights recommendations

The Human Rights Council said in its list of 99 recommendations that Israel must completely end its blockade of Gaza, while also calling for it to release Arab detainees.

Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva said that "Israel remains committed to reinforcing areas in which we are succeeding and bettering those areas that need improvement."

Aharon Leshno Yaar said the dialogue had been "positive and productive".

Israel is due to report to the UN council in March on how it will address the recommendations.

Deliveries allowed

The Israel military allowed dozens of lorries carrying humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and permitted the delivery of diesel to Gaza's main power plant on Tuesday.
 
The Karam Abu Salam crossing allowed about 40 lorries carrying supplies into the territory, while 30 lorries with grain, wheat and bird feed passed through the Karni crossing.

The Nahal Oz fuel terminal allowed in some industrial fuel for Gaza's only power plant, as well as cooking gas for the general public and petrol for UN operations.

The Erez crossing was also open for journalists and humanitarian workers coming into Gaza.

But Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the Palestinian coastal strip, said the amount of supplies allowed into Gaza was of limited quantity and would only probably last for a few days.

For Al Jazeera's coverage on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, click here.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 60
 
MB
Canada
10/12/2008
Israel ignores UN
Nothing will come of this. Much as I support the Palestinian cause, I cannot see the Israeli government (which has continually lorded the threat of being labelled an anti-semite over the heads of any group that does not support them) listening to the UN. They've repeatedly ignored the UN previously - including the Convention on Anti-Imperialism - and I can't see them doing anything differently now. The only thing keeping this apartheid state alive is their close relationship with the USA.

Fred Bunzl
Switzerland
10/12/2008
UN and Israeli rights crimes
The antagonism between the state of Israel and the UN is as old as the Zionist state itself. The 1948 killing of UN Peace Mediator Count Folke Bernadotte by Jewish terrorist organization LEHI is one example. Let's face facts... Israel will will not take seriously any rebuke from the UN unless it has Washington's backing.

TK
Canada
10/12/2008
If Hamas stops the rockets and kassams from being fired into Israel then the latter will open the border. If Israel fails to open the borders after the rockets stop then you can start blaming it.

Joe Florida
United States
10/12/2008
UN attacks Israeli rights crimes
I totally agree with the first comments from MB Canada: they are concise, they reflect the reality and sadly enough it is my country that keeps on supporting the extremist , unjust and criminal Israeli policies.

stefan ratkiewicz
Canada
10/12/2008
blockade of gaza
After having read the article the only pertinant observation that i could conclude is that of the israeli ambassador. "israel remains committed to reinforcing areas in which we are succeding.......".This simply means that the zionist's are maintaining the status quo in there're desire to subdue the palestinians in order to achieve their plans of aggrandizement.It is similar to a starfish exerting continuous pressure on a clam in order to devour it.

seth
United States
10/12/2008
UN & Israeli Rights Crimes
It's worth noting that this set of problems is not only as old as Israel, but also as old as the UN. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has never applied to Palestinians. As long as the UN has existed Palestinians have been disenfranchised from the global political stage. The road to hell is paved with good intentions the UN is used to maintain the status quo of Israeli dominance and the increasing matrix of subjugation of the Palestinians.

Felix
United States
10/12/2008
Its a hame for the human race
It is a shame for the human race to see that for power and money we abuse and kill with such precision.

Felix
United States
10/12/2008
Same race
Jews and arabs happen to be the same race, semite. Shame on religion that makes them to kill each other

Paul
Uganda
10/12/2008
Irony
Its ironic that a people who experienced suffering on the scale that the people who started the Jewish state experienced, could be the same people overseeing a state that has committed a crime on the scale of the Gaza experience..under the watchful eye of the worlds ambassador of liberty democracy and human rights. i wonder who's to blame..Israel or the USA...

D. L. GRAHAM
United States
11/12/2008
SHMINISTIM (PART ONE)
Ira Chemus chernus@colorado.edu.Says: It's also (our) job to move the administration and the public toward peace, demilitarization, and an end to the foreign policy of empire which, of course, began with FDR. They would support major reductions in the military budget and in the U.S. military presence abroad. They would support major reductions in the military budget and in the U.S. military presence abroad. They would favor a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other

Alex
United States
11/12/2008
Gaza Blockade
Israel is one the worst violater of human rights in history of mankind they ought to shame themself. I believe they forgot about holocust and human dignities. Jews fought against injustice in europe in world war II. Now they creating same condition for other human beings and they trying to outcry that they are victims. No Sir or Mamm you are not victims, you are victimizers.

Ernest Saenz
United States
11/12/2008
UN attacks Israeli rights crimes
Is it too much to ask for Hamas to stop firing the rockets? The rockets being fired are affecting Israeli innocent men, women and childrens mental health even if they do not regularly strike populated areas. The Palestinians need to be treated with dignity and respect as well. Give it a chance. I sure don't want to sound as if I'm coming across taking sides because I am not. Don't give each other reasons to harm or bring discomfort on each other.

Rhys Jones
Australia
11/12/2008
israeli crimes
You may be right Christopher that Israel will not listen to the US even if it did apply some pressure. However, while the US veto's every security council resolution against Israel, gives them billions of dollars every year and provides them with advanced weaponry which they then use to kill and subjugate Palestinians, then the Americans are a party to the crimes. The same principle was applied to the Afghans for supporting Al Qaida.

Esmeralda Mohamed
United States
11/12/2008
UN ATTACKS-Isralie Crimes
TK- from canada was probably born yesterday. There were many agreements with PA and Hamas, BUT isralies dont want peace! All they have to do is to END THE OCCUPATION! They are above the law! UN can pass all kinds of resolutions against israel, BUT nobody can enforce them its a joke. What is really SAD is my TAX dollars are given to israel to continue their genocide against the people of palestine.

Lew G.
United States
11/12/2008
Be Real Folks!
The UN Human Rights Council is composed of countries that have a history of hostility towards Israel the council is a total farce. If Arabs were really concerned about their Palestinian Brothers they would tell them to put down their weapons and start educating their children about tolerance and understanding Until then I'm afraid there is no chance at peace. Hate gets you nothing but more hate.

Lila Smith
United States
12/12/2008
I just think that talking about Israel and what it does is like talking about a willful child getting whatever he wants no matter who gets in the way. Israel will end up with all of Jerusalem....I am sure of that.

Farhat maquami
United States
12/12/2008
Why no body Cares about Palastinians?
Why there is no outcry bout starving Palestinians to death and submitting them to death in a Concentration Camp called Gaza Strip" Why you are the only site reporting this crime against Humanity? Why no-one Cares? Why the so called UN Sanction Panel name a Muslim Charity Organization as a terrorist Organization just because some US agent said so? Why there is no in the US no there is no Muslim Charity Organization which can help brothers elsewhere? Why no one talks about Gaza Siege?

daniel reed
United States
12/12/2008
Israel ignores UN
I would ignore the UN too. They have lived with their backs against the wall since before Christ was born. By the grace of God they have survied since Moses. I admire them and wished that others would too instead of making everyday life miserable for them. They didnt have any support back when Syria and Egypt and Saudi wanted to make them extinct. But they kicked butt and survived against all odds.. hmmm do ya think God has blessed them with the knowledge of survival.

daniel reed
United States
12/12/2008
part 2
the holy land should be treated as such and no blood should be shed on it. Iran hates Israel and wants them all dead. Hamas doest respect the land and shoots rockets no matter if they is a peace treaty. I dont see what choice Israel has but to lock down the borders, Just like Iraq and the extremist there. None of these guys have any respect for human life weither its children or women or people that believe in God and his rules. Anyone that kills and thinks they are just belongs in Hell.

Katerina Andreou
United States
12/12/2008
Israeli crimes
Israel has committed by their policies of indiscriminate bombings, denial of aid, travel, and the imprisonment of many indigenous Palestinians. They've built walls around cities, keeping people captives, while denying them accessibility to sell goods, or to work, much less seek medical aid or education. They are worse and more hypocritical than the Third Reich, and should be tried in the Hague for such abuses. Also, our current US administration deserves a similar fate.

Grace
United States
12/12/2008
I believe the Israelis and zionists that support do not understand how many people in the U.S. are fed up with this blind support of a country founded on terror. There is almost total zionist control of U.S. media and is never discussed in a comprehensive way. You just get a few films and comments about rockets. The Israel problem is huge from right to left wing websites. Are they waiting until anti zion fever becomes outright anti-semitism? One state now. Free Gaza.

mary
United States
12/12/2008
BROKEN PROMISES
Hamas stopped the rockets, Israel didn't open the crossings. When are some people going to learn of this so they can start blaming Israel? To TK from Canada.

Al Pal
China
12/12/2008
Israeli BS
Israel denounced the UN as anti-semetic here on Al-Jazeera TV. Israel accuses Palestine of "hurting" its people with harmless, often mis-fired rockets into Israeli territory. Yet Israel retaliates with starvation blockades in Gaza and to the West bank. And Rocketships that kill innocent Palestinian adults and children. And tanks against rockthrowers. And settlers backed up by a gutless IDF and IPF, who do little to protect Palestinians. Israel, the rest of the world will stand up to you very soon

susan
United States
12/12/2008
Hamas plays Gaza population for it own advantage
What about the Hamas “heroes” who fire rockets at Israel day in and day out, and than run and hide behind their starving women and children?? They takeover all the gasoline tank trucks that are permitted to enter Gaza just to fill up their reserves and exacerbate the fuel shortage, and now they even have started to collect taxes from tunnel diggers who smuggle in goods from Egypt. Big heroes indeed, who don’t mind to make a buck and make political gains off the backs of their people.

David
Canada
13/12/2008
UN attacks Israeli human rights crimes
Under international law Israel still occupies the Gaza Strip as it controls all entrances and exits, air space and sea access. The Gaza Strip is a massive outdoor prison. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention Israel is reponsible for the well being of the Palestinian/Canaanite inhabitants of the Gaza Strip who have every right to resist the occupation with primitive rockets that have killed just 6 Israelis while Israel has killed hundreds of Gazans, including over 250 children.

daniel
United States
13/12/2008
israeli rights crimes
the u.s didnt start ww2 or the war in Iraq or Afganistan. I am glad we have bigger guns and bombs. That way we can stop the aggression instead of lay helplessly at the mercy of ignorant people that think we should all be dead. Israel has been the target of extemist and terrorist and need a equalizer. Look at the map and see how big their country is and how big Syria and Saudi and Egypt and Iran are. Haters dont get the picture. Leave the politics out and put yourself in their shoes.

Marc
Belgium
13/12/2008
Religious Zionism.
Easy solution : boycott all israelian products, it is not that difficult to read the labels , see where the product is coming from and put it back on the shelves

John Kennedy
United States
13/12/2008
UN attacks Israeli rights crimes
Would any country in the position of Israel allow open borders with the Palestinians? Whatever you think of Israel, their actions are logical. Until the Palestinians become a neighbor that can be trusted to at the very least not blow up women and children, the lives of Palestinians will continue to suffer.

Afra
Maldives
13/12/2008
Un attackes Israel rights crimes
I wonder just how long it will take the UN to proceed ahead with an indictment and prosecution of the Israelis, rather than merely ending it with a condemnation. I also condemn the United States for the violation of human rights in Afghanistan and Iraq and the heinous crimes committed against the detainees of its highly notorious prisons in Cuba and Iraq. Both the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq have proved to be baseless. The UN is merely a tool of the Unites States of America.

Redder freak
United Kingdom
13/12/2008
Gaza siege and Hamas
Hamas is the democratically elected government of both Gaza and the West Bank. I expect they will continue to resist Israeli occupation of the West Bank until it ends. Their enemies call them terrorists. No doubt the Germans called the French Resistance terrorists in WW2 and the British called the Israelis terrorists during the 1940s. It's just a meaningless political insult.

Jake
Afghanistan
13/12/2008
Mary. When did Hamas stop firing rockets? On the days they fired mortars instead? Imagine someone doing this to Russia. What do you think Moscow's response would be? If you don't know, then look at what happened in August.

richard columbare
United States
13/12/2008
terrorist organisations
The United States and Israel call Hamas a terrorist organisation,Hamas which was democratically elected by the people. So if that is the criterior for being a terrorist organisation,what does that make the U.S.and Israel. One mans terrorist is another mans patriot. It just depends on YOUR point of view.

Al
United States
14/12/2008
UN ATTACKS ISRELI CRIMES
Daniel, Susan Typical Hate mongers, This is the same lame excuse used by all zionist, rockets are only recent attacks, israel have occupied palestine land for for than 49 years, murdered almost a million palestinians, F-18, Drones, Tanks and Air Strikes are no match for home made rockets, you must be ignorant, if you cannot figure that out, My tax dollars should NOT be spent on isreli military to kill people.

Mike
United States
14/12/2008
Lets Think That Through...
Rhys Jones in Australia believs that "while the US vetos every security council resolution against Israel, gives them billions of dollars every year and provides them with advanced weaponry... then the Americans are a party to the crimes. The same principle was applied to the Afghans for supporting Al Qaida." You can adopt this black & white logic, but then by the same logic, it would seem that you are also our enemy.

simplicity
Afghanistan
14/12/2008
occupiers
I think that if people take a step back from all the details and information that is fed to us you will be able to see the situation as it is in the status quo:What you have is the Occupier and the Occupied.Yes, a few of the occupied have fought and cause minor destruction,wrongly involving innocent people,but at the end of the day, who suffers more?Why are these occupied people seen as dispensible to the world, the likes of which havent been seen since the extermination of the American Indians?

Andrew
United Kingdom
14/12/2008
No Mike
Mike - you completely miss the point quite deliberately I suspect. The North American natives were indeed defeated by the Anglo-Saxons. Simply put, bows and arrows were no match for the gun. In any event, it is completely irrelevant if most of them were killed by disease. The point is, their land was stolen from unwanted, uninvited occupiers who had arrived from a distant part of the world. As was Australia, NZ, and Canada. See a certain similarity with Israel?

Ben
Sri Lanka
14/12/2008
Role of US
We often blame Isreal for violation of human rights against the Palestinians. It is the known fact why the Isrealis are so arrogant and ignors all international pressure.. because they have their Big Daddy US protecting them.. Us is the creator of many conflicts in the world.. including the Islamic terrorism which they created in order to fight against Russians in Afghanistan.

Tom in USA
United States
15/12/2008
Victimiziation by the ultimate victims
Nearly 70 years after the horrific events of WWII, you would think the Israeli Jews are the ony people who ever suffered persecution. Tell that to the Rwandans, to the Congolese, to the Croats slaughtered by the Serbs. Silence from Israel in every case. When Eli Wiesel famously said "Never again" he meant "Never again.. to the Jews!" Everyone else can just fend for themselves. I remember reading once: "until everyone is free, no one will ever be free."

Ruburi
Tanzania
15/12/2008
UN attacks Israel rightscrimes
Do the people who fire rockets now fathom the consequences of their action? Or its always the same story the Jews are always guilt

MALACHI
Puerto Rico
15/12/2008
Israeli rights to the land
It is Israel’s land! God made a covenant with Abram, so let them be or you will feel the wrath of God! Genesis 12:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.

Blueblood
United States
15/12/2008
Blind & total US support for Israel
For those from the US that wrote in with total support for Israel If you believe in the justification for the existance in Israel - its their ancestral homeland and the Palestinians are the actual occupiers- then you also must believe in the right of American Indians to at some point take over the US, and rule it with only American Indian interests in mind. If you cannot square this with the logic you use then you should work to develop a more informed & nuanced view of the world.

Jim Edwards
Canada
15/12/2008
Merle Canada 14/12/2008 "Before 1967, Israel did not occupy Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem. They were not offered peace then. What has changed?" Are you nuts? Israel has occupied Pal lands since 1947. And teh 1967 conflict was premeditated by Israel, General Hod (Chief of Staff IAF) writes: “Sixteen years of planning had gone into those initial eighteen minutes. We lived with the plan, we slept on the plan, we ate the plan, constantly we perfected the plan.”

Christopher
United Kingdom
10/12/2008
Palrestine and the UN
Unfortunately the UN is all but impotent when it comes to influencing Isreali policy and so is Washington. Isreal looks out for itself, the relationship between the US and Isreal is a precarious one and even if pressure were applied by those in Washington I doubt very much if Isreal would listen.

Junior
New Zealand (Aotearoa)
11/12/2008
Kind of huge
Even though nothing said by Falk might come into action, the fact he said it is a big deal since the UN usually keep quiet about these things, and even threatening with legal action against civilian and military Israeli leaders, have you heard something like that spoken against Israel before? It probably won't happen, but it might scare Israel enough to be more humane. Note to TK, the rockets being fired were a result of Israeli incursion into Gaza while the ceasefire was present.

Z.
United States
11/12/2008
If Israel "followed the international norm," Gaza would be a parking lot
The international norm is that when a weaker region (e.g. Afghanistan or Georgia) attacks a stronger one (e.g. the US or Russia) with rockets, the stronger nation attacks and smashes them, often causing many, many thousands of casualties in the process. Israel hasn't done that in Gaza, despite daily rocket and mortar fire (which never actually quit during the so-called lull). Falk is a hypocrite.

NIZAR.PK,INDIA
United Arab Emirates
11/12/2008
UN attack Israeli rights crimes
Where is the ICC prosector celebrity who is preparing arrest warrant against the president Omar Al-Basheer of sudan on Darfur atrocities and where is champaions of the outcry of international community on the plight of Darfur people .Surely ,they are tightlipped because here the crimes is being done by the of state Israel with the support of the crumbling US empire.

christian
Afghanistan
11/12/2008
Israeli blockade
Its such a ridiculous situation, Israel vilifies Hamas, but at the same time starves the people so that their only option is to flee into the arms of Hamas. Hamas funds many social programs, and if you impose sanctions on the palestinian people, its number or loyalists will obviously continue to grow. This is so unbelievably calous and short-sighted by Israel.

Fiona
Canada
11/12/2008
UN Attacks Israeli Crimes - So What?
More useless words from the U.N.. How many times have we heard this sort of thing? The end of South African apartheid was strongly influenced by a global economic boycott which financially crippled the country. Even my mother refused to buy her beloved South African sherry before Canada banned the importation of it. Too few of us have the guts, courage and a true dedication to the betterment of humanity to serve Israel the same fate. This includes President Elect Obama. Disgusting.

Otto
Italy
11/12/2008
why is there a blockade?
this article does not ponder on that question. It seems to imply that the blockade is a way to harm palastenians just for them being there. Not a word on the thousands of rockets shot from gazza on Israel over the past 7 years - way before the blockade.

Grace
United States
12/12/2008
Voters in the U.S. must demand answers from our elected officials. Why this blind support and all this "aid" to Israel. It could be that many politicians have a conflict of interests when it comes to Israel. Why are the Israeli lobbys the gatekeepers of elected office. Why did Israel and U.S. call for elections when it was clear Hamas would win. The smarter choice would have been to recognize and uphold the democratically elected Hamas. Free Gaza. One state now.

Mary
United States
12/12/2008
ISRAELI INFO SHIELD
This is the age of the internet. while news sources may be easily controlled, there are multiple ways to inform oneself about the OCCUPATION of an innocent country by an occupier. Personally I find it infuriating that some very ignorant responses are still offered to a terrible situation caused by American support of Israeli greed.

David
New Zealand (Aotearoa)
13/12/2008
Gaza
If I were the leader of Gaza, I would stop any rocket attacks on my bullying neighbour, conclude some kind of peace treay that allowed my people to trade, and try to make friends with the EU, Russia and China. Then I would start trading and try to become rich and prosperous. Far more threatening to Israel than any rocket attacks.

daniel
United States
13/12/2008
israeli rights "crimes"
if someone launched a rocket at any of these people that have made comments on rights of others I could only imagine you all would take defense. I havent heard Israel make any verbal assaults towards its neighbors and when Germany invaded and killed millions of Jews they didnt fight back. They didnt have weapons and no one knew what happened to them until the U.S found the torture camps and dead bodies. Seems like a Catch 22. It would be a repeat of history and the haters would kill them all

Andrew
United Kingdom
13/12/2008
Mary, US: You refer to the 'OCCUPATION of an innocent country by an occupier.' I assume you are referring to the Anglo-Saxon occupation of the US. After all, did the British not brutally disposess the North American indigenous population of an entire continent?

Afra
Maldives
13/12/2008
UN attackes Israeli rights crimes
It looks like as if the Palestinians are not human, that they are not entitled to human rights. The Palestinians have long since been subjugated by the Israelis. And surprisingly though, the United States of America - supposed champion of democracy and advocator of human rights has always turned a blind eye to the crimes committed by the Israelis. In fact, on many occasions the US has bluntly supported Israel. - cont...

Mike
United States
14/12/2008
No, Andrew
Andrew in the UK replies to Mary: "Mary, US: You refer to the 'OCCUPATION of an innocent country by an occupier.' I assume you are referring to the Anglo-Saxon occupation of the US. After all, did the British not brutally disposess the North American indigenous population of an entire continent?" Actually, no, Andrew, 95% of the indiginous population died of diseases that the Europeans brought, not from violence. The Europeans were not capable of militarily defeating the Native Americans.

Merle
Canada
14/12/2008
Esmeralda says- "all the Israelis need to do is to end the occupation if they want peace." Why should they believe this? Before 1967, Israel did not occupy Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem. They were not offered peace then. What has changed?

Andrew
United Kingdom
14/12/2008
Hit the nail on the head
Merle, Canada: You've hit the nail on the head. Hardline critics of Israel forever claim that Israel doesn't want peace, conveniently overlooking the fact that not only the Palestinians, but the entire Arab and Islamic world, seeks nothing less than Israel's destruction. Which begs the question of who Israel is supposed to make peace with.

kahatano
Tanzania
15/12/2008
UN attacks Israel rightscrimes
There is nothing the Jewish state will do that will no be criticized in this world. Particularly the Arab and Moslem world! So, the UN report about the allegidly rights'crimes ' is nothing new to me. The UN has always been biased against Israel.

Ari
United States
15/12/2008
UN attacks Israeli rights crimes
To richard columbare Hitler was also democratically elected...and for most supported by his people...I guess that the slaughter of 20+ million people during the second world war should be applauded????

 
ARTICLE TOOLS
 Email Article  Email article
 Print Article  Print article
 Send Feedback  Send feedback
 Share article  Share article