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UN Human Rights Council Slams Israel over Gaza; EU Abstains |
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Monday, 28 January 2008 |
The UN Human Rights Council criticised Israel on Thursday for its blockade of
Gaza, in a resolution that EU member states on the council abstained from voting
on, citing a lack of balance.
By a vote of 30 to one, the council adopted the resolution that had been tabled
by Pakistan and Syria on behalf of the Islamic and Arab blocs. Canada cast the
lone opposing vote, while a total of 15 other states abstained including
European allies Britain, France and Germany.
The resolution called for "urgent international action to put an immediate end
to the grave violations committed by the occupying power, Israel, in the
occupied Palestinian territory".
A human rights analyst speaking on condition of anonymity said Canada's lone
vote against the resolution proves that the country is an accomplice in the
crimes against the Palestinians.
It marked the fourth time that the council, established in 2006 to replace the
Human Rights Commission as the United Nations' main forum for human rights, had
lambasted Israel in a special session.
The Palestinian ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Mohammad Abu-Koash, said the
vote was significant but urged greater international pressure upon Israel.
"Israel cannot have a free hand, a free licence against the Palestinian people,"
he told journalists after the session.
Both the United States and Israel were absent from the session.
Neither country is a member of the 47-strong Council but both can attend as
observers.
Last week Israel turned its prolonged blockade of Gaza into a full-scale
lockdown, blocking all fuel shipments and humanitarian aid; a clear act of
collective punishment against the entire population of Gaza so as to exert
pressure on the democratically elected Hamas government.
Comments posted are the sole opinion of the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of AIM. |
