The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and Al-Haq presented an oral intervention to the UN Human Rights Council (the Council),on Monday, june 10, in which they condemned the way in which the international community, and particularly the member states of the Council, have ignored violations committed by Israel to its international obligations in the occupied Palestinian territories. The organizations similarly denounced the international community’s disregard of Israel’s non-compliance with its commitments to the Council itself, as in January 2013 Israel refused to undergo the Universal Periodic Review, which is required of all state members of the Council. The intervention was presented as part of the CIHRS’ activities at the 23rd session of the Council, convened in Geneva until 14 June.
The organizations condemned the measures in peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine which have merely asked Israel to freeze its illegal settlements while requiring Palestine to desist from pursuing its right to self-determination. They further denounced the unabated continuation of Israeli settlements despite ongoing efforts towards negotiations; on 5 June 2013, the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee approved the Hazeitim interchange, part of a plan to link settlements to East Jerusalem and thereby divide the West Bank in two.
The organizations further criticized the way in which Israel has attempted to avoid severe criticism about violations it has committed against international law by refusing to undergo the Universal Periodic Review, which represents a breach of one of the fundamental protocols of the Council. The Universal Periodic Review aims to examine the extent to which states have complied with their international obligations regarding human rights, and Israel’s abstention threatens to undermine this critical mechanism as other states may follow its example in order to evade international accountability.
CIHRS and Al-Haq called upon the Council to ensure full transparency in arranging Israel’s UPR in the event of its reengagement, such that all stakeholders are aware in advance and that member states and civil society are able to engage effectively and meaningfully.
Attachments
oral intervention about the occupied Palestinian
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