First Entity to Ignore Human Rights Review: "Israel" Boycotts UN Forum

Local Editor

"Israel" boycotted Tuesday the UN human rights forum over fears of scrutiny of its treatment of residents of the occupied territories. By this step, "Israel" is now the first entity in history to win a deferment of the periodical review of its human rights record.

Tel Aviv refused to send a delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva for the Universal Periodic Review procedure where UN member states have their human rights record evaluated every four years.

"Israel's" cooperation with the council stopped last March after the UN set up a committee to inspect the effects of the "Israeli" settlements on Palestinians.
"Israel" which earlier accused the United Nations of anti-"Israel" bias reiterated its stance, recalling that the council has passed more resolutions against "Israel" than all other countries combined.
"After a series of votes and statements and incidents we have decided to suspend our working relations with that body," Yigal Palmor, "Israeli" foreign ministry spokesman, told the Financial Times. "I can confirm that there is no change in that policy."
"There have been more resolutions condemning "Israel" than the rest of the world put together," an "Israeli" government official said on Tuesday. "It's not a fair game - it's not even a game."

Following the "Israeli" decision, the council has decided to postpone its review until no later than November.
The Council president also called on the body to adopt a draft response to an unprecedented move by "Israel".
Egypt's representative, meanwhile, warned that a "soft" approach would create a dangerous precedent and leave "a wide-open door for more cases of non-cooperation."

This comes as activist groups lashed out against "Israel's" disregard for the international law.
"By not participating in its own review, "Israel" is setting a dangerous precedent," Eilis Ni Chaithnia, an advocacy officer with al-Haq, a human rights organization based in Ramallah has told the FT. "This is the first time any country has made a determined effort not to attend."
The investigation into "Israel's" Human Rights record began in 2007, but it was until last year the UN started to pay particular attention to Israel's activities in the West Bank.

The probe at the time prompted an angry response from the "Israeli" leaders.
"This is a hypocritical council with an automatic majority against "Israel"," "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org