UNHRC: "Israel" Could be Sent to ICC for Settlement Activity

Local Editor

United Nations human rights investigators called "Israel" Thursday to halt settlement expansion and withdraw all settlers from the occupied West Bank, saying that its practices violated international law.

""Israel" must, in compliance with article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, cease all settlement activities without preconditions. It must immediately initiate a process of withdrawal of all settlers from the OPT [occupied Palestinian territories]," said a report by the inquiry led by French judge Christine Chanet.
It further stated that "the settlements contravene the 1949 Geneva Conventions forbidding the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory, which could amount to war crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court [ICC]."

In December, the Palestinians accused "Israel" in a letter to the United Nations of planning to commit further "war crimes" by expanding settlements after the Palestinians won de facto UN recognition of statehood and warned that Tel Aviv must be held accountable.
"Israel" has not cooperated with the probe set up by the Human Rights Council last March to examine the impact of settlements in the territory, including East al-Quds.

The independent UN investigators interviewed more than 50 people who came to Jordan in November to testify about confiscated land, damage to their livelihoods including olive trees, and violence by settlers, according to the report.
"The mission believes that the motivation behind this violence and the intimidation against the Palestinians as well as their properties is to drive the local populations away from their lands and allow the settlements to expand," it said.

About 250 settlements in the West Bank, including East al-Quds, have been established since 1967 and they hold an estimated 520,000 settlers, according to the UN report. The settlements impede Palestinian access to water resources and agricultural lands, it said.
The settlements were "leading to a creeping annexation that prevents the establishment of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state and undermines the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination," it said.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org