Palestinian officials applaud UN settlements report

[Jefferson23]

By Noah Browning

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- Palestinian officials welcomed a UN Human Rights Council report on Thursday highly critical of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying it vindicated their struggle against Israel.

The UN investigation, which Israel boycotted, urged Israel to halt settlement construction unconditionally and begin removing all 500,000 Israeli settlers from occupied territory immediately.

"This is incredible. We are extremely heartened by this principled and candid assessment of Israeli violations," said Hanan Ashrawi, a senior official in the PLO.

The UN report, issued in Geneva, said the settlements contravened the Fourth Geneva Convention forbidding the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory and could amount to war crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.


http://maannews.net/ENG/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=560997

[sabbat hunter]

1. Given its history of anti-israel bias

and the countries on the UNHRC, nothing the say will be listened to by Israel.

The UNHRC has a long history of bias against Israel, and has countries that actively are violating human rights and yet have not been condemned in any way shape or form by the UNHRC

[Jefferson23]

2. I've heard this argument so many time before. So who do you believe the Israeli government

will listen to? As it stands today they're ignoring the US, their best friend, on settlements.

[azurnoir]

3. maybe the ICC?

The United Nations Human Rights Council has published its fact finding mission’s report on the settlements. The report concludes that Israeli settlements are constructed for the benefits of Jews only through a system of ethnic segregation and military law, and are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory by the occupying force. According to the report:

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.

Israel is a signatory to the Fourth Geneva Convention but has concluded that it does not apply to the territories occupied from Jordan and Egypt in 1967, since both countries abandoned any claims to this land. Israel considers the territories “disputed” (a position taken recently by the Levi Commission, which called upon Israel to legalized all outposts built on Palestinian land) However, even the Israeli narrative doesn’t explain ethnic segregation in the West Bank, military law and the absence of human or political rights for the non-Jewish civilian population in the West Bank.

http://972mag.com/un-human-rights-council-settlement-issue-could-end-up-in-the-international-criminal-court/65168/

[Jefferson23]

6. You know I hope it goes right there, asap. n/t

[delrem]

12. yes. what in hell's name is stopping them???? n/t

[Jefferson23]

13. It's pretty complicated. There are a number of obstacles for the Palestinians if they go forward

to involve the ICC.

For one, Israel will not likely ever join the ICC. For another, there are legal jurisdiction problems..Gaza,
because at present it is considered a separate government. As far as I understand it, in order for there
to be a standard legal definition of statehood, there has to be a single government.

It's a double edged sword for the Palestinians also when it comes to war crimes as Hamas among others, could very
well be charged and found guilty..they, as far as I know and I could be wrong, do not wish to join the ICC.

Israel, obviously would be subject to the same scrutiny.

On the other hand, Palestinians have what to lose? They would be showing the world they are subjecting
themselves to such legal scrutiny because their ultimate goal is for peace...a viable state..not to
be left with a bantustan.

ICC legal definition:

The 'crime of apartheid' means inhumane acts of a character similar to those referred to in paragraph 1, committed in the context of an institutionalised regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that regime.[15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_of_apartheid#ICC_definition_of_the_crime_of_apartheid

If Israel is brought to the ICC for building in the West Bank, that would be one big fucking deal, imho.

Considering how most states have voted in the UN, the ICC would not likely ignore such a request and would
proceed with an investigation. Yet there are states that would not support the Palestinians if they were
to bring Israel to the ICC.

I would think it's fair to say the ICC would appreciate very much not having the issues presented to them.
The politics of this is pretty far reaching..what an amazing and convoluted blame game would begin..the likes
of which we have probably never seen. Unless of course, Israel and Palestine joined the ICC..that would
indicate an earnest step to resolve the conflict.

I hope the Palestinians go forward, as I do not see much hope left.

[sabbat hunter]

4. Well until the UNHRC

shapes up, no one should take them seriously/listen to them.

Israel does need to withdraw from almost all of the WB (With the exception of the old city of Jerusalem and the immediate environs), but not because the UNHRC came out with a critical paper about it.

[Jefferson23]

5. I beg your pardon.

My question was, why doesn't Israel listen to their best friend, the U.S. on
settlements? Your response is that until the UNHRC shapes up, no one should listen to them?

That makes no sense at all. It could be that you do not agree with the US position, but
that would be something you could articulate on, if you would.

[sabbat hunter]

8. No one should listen to the UNHRC

and Israel should take our advice on the settlements.

[Jefferson23]

11. Ok, but they're not. I don't see any evidence that will change. n/t

[Scurrilous]

7. Time to demonize the ICC.

[azurnoir]

9. yep I was thinking that too

can hardly wait to see the what and how

[Scurrilous]

10. Oh it's coming.

I'm surprised people are still going on about the UNHRC. At this point in the process they're not that important.

[Purveyor]

14. Shouldn't be long now...