MARK WEISS in Jerusalem
Irish Times: ISRAEL HAS rejected a report by three United Nations-appointed human rights experts who concluded that Israeli forces violated international law when they raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May, killing nine Turkish activists.
The Israeli foreign ministry accused the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council of anti-Israel bias, politicisation and extremism.
“Israel is a democratic and law-abiding country that carefully observes international law and, when need be, knows how to investigate itself,” the foreign ministry statement said.
“Israel has investigated and is continuing to investigate the flotilla events. A military inquiry has completed its work. Another inquiry with two international observers is continuing its work, and Israel, in an unprecedented step, is also cooperating with a UN probe ordered by secretary general Ban Ki-moon. Today’s report is misleading and biased, as is the body which issued it.”
The Human Rights Council panel said the interception by Israeli naval commandos was “disproportionate” and “displayed an unacceptable level of brutality”. In a 56-page report, the UN panel said: “There is clear evidence to support prosecutions of the following crimes within the terms of article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention: wilful killing; torture or inhuman treatment; wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health”.
The convention is an international treaty governing the protection of civilians in times of war.
“The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence,” said the probe.
“A series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces during the interception of the flotilla and during the detention of passengers in Israel prior to deportation,” the experts found.
Seven Irish passport-holders were among the international activists detained after Israeli commandos stormed the ships carrying aid supplies to Gaza. They were eventually deported after questioning by Israeli authorities.
The Irish-owned vessel MV Rachel Corrie was one of the vessels in the flotilla, but was making its way to Gaza some days behind the initial ships which were stormed by Israeli troops.
The ship was returned to its owners some time after being seized and taken to Ashdod port.
Examining the circumstances of the raid, the panel concluded that a humanitarian crisis existed in Gaza on the day of the incident in Gaza and “for this reason alone the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law.”
Israel refused to cooperate with the panel, arguing that the Human Rights Council has a history of anti-Israel resolutions. However, under intense international pressure, Israeli leaders agreed instead to work with a separate UN investigation ordered by Mr Ban. It is being led by former New Zealand’s prime minister Geoffrey Palmer and has yet to publish its findings.
Jerusalem Post:
Photo by: APMK Zoabi lauds UN panel report finding Israel at fault
By JPOST.COM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS
09/23/2010 01:17
Talkbacks (62)MK Haneen Zoabi (Balad) lauded the findings of a panel of UN human rights experts on Wednesday, which found that Israel had violated international law in enforcing a blockade on Gaza and in the conduct of IDF soldiers during the boarding of the Mavi Marmara.
Zoabi was keen to praise the "professionalism and fairness in [the Human Rights Council's fact finding mission's] efforts to reveal the truth."
RELATED:PM to quit UN panel if soldiers probed
Analysis: 2 blockades of Gaza exist
‘Our minarets are our lances’
She also called on Israel to move forward with the findings of the panel and to indict the Israeli citizens responsible for the Mavi Marmara boarding operation.
"We must not settle for declarations of condemnation but we must work to put the criminals to justice, those who ordered and those who carried out the orders," Zoabi said.
She added, "All attempts of character assassination will not make Israel appear innocent."
Zoabi was one of the flotilla participants aboard the Mavi Marmara when it was boarded by IDF naval commandos.
Earlier on Wednesday, three UN-appointed human rights experts announced there findings that Israeli forces violated international law when they raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla killing nine activists earlier this year.
The UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission concluded that the naval blockade of Gaza was unlawful because of the humanitarian crisis there, and described the military raid on the flotilla as brutal and disproportionate.
The 56-page document lists a series of alleged crimes committed by Israeli forces during and after the raid, including willful killing and torture, and claims there is "clear evidence to support prosecutions."
"A series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces during the interception of the flotilla and during the detention of passengers in Israel prior to deportation," the experts found.
Examining the circumstances of the raid, the panel concluded that a humanitarian crisis existed in Gaza on the day of the incident in Gaza and "for this reason alone the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law."
"The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel toward the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality," the report said.
Foreign Ministry blasts report as biased
The Foreign Ministry responded late Wednesday by saying the Human Rights Council had a "biased, politicized and extremist approach."
"The Human Rights Council blamed Israel prior to the investigation and it is no surprise that they condemn after," said Andy David, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, referring to the 47-member body's resolution in early June condemning the raid.
Israel refused to cooperate with the panel, preferring instead to work with a separate UN group under New Zealand's former Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe that is also examining the incident but has yet to publish its findings.
"Israel is a democratic and law abiding country that carefully observes international law and, when need be, knows how to investigate itself," the Foreign Ministry statement said. "That is how Israel has always acted, and that is the way in which investigations were conducted following Operation Cast Lead, launched to protect the inhabitants of southern Israel from rockets and terror attacks carried out by Hamas from Gaza."
Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman said the report emphasized that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories violates human rights "not only against Palestinian people but against innocent people who came to show their sympathy."
"Now it's required to be a mechanism in order to translate this report into action and to bring the occupation commanders to trial for the crimes they committed," Barhoum said.
The Human Rights Council's report was compiled by former UN war crimes prosecutor Desmond de Silva, Trinidadian judge Karl T. Hudson-Phillips and Malaysian women's rights advocate Mary Shanthi Dairiam. It is scheduled to be presented to the council on Monday.
Photo by: AP
MK Zoabi lauds UN panel report finding Israel at fault
By JPOST.COM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS09/23/2010 01:17
Talkbacks (62)
MK Haneen Zoabi (Balad) lauded the findings of a panel of UN human rights experts on Wednesday, which found that Israel had violated international law in enforcing a blockade on Gaza and in the conduct of IDF soldiers during the boarding of the Mavi Marmara.
Zoabi was keen to praise the "professionalism and fairness in [the Human Rights Council's fact finding mission's] efforts to reveal the truth."
RELATED:PM to quit UN panel if soldiers probed
Analysis: 2 blockades of Gaza exist
‘Our minarets are our lances’
She also called on Israel to move forward with the findings of the panel and to indict the Israeli citizens responsible for the Mavi Marmara boarding operation.
"We must not settle for declarations of condemnation but we must work to put the criminals to justice, those who ordered and those who carried out the orders," Zoabi said.
She added, "All attempts of character assassination will not make Israel appear innocent."
Zoabi was one of the flotilla participants aboard the Mavi Marmara when it was boarded by IDF naval commandos.
Earlier on Wednesday, three UN-appointed human rights experts announced there findings that Israeli forces violated international law when they raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla killing nine activists earlier this year.
The UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission concluded that the naval blockade of Gaza was unlawful because of the humanitarian crisis there, and described the military raid on the flotilla as brutal and disproportionate.
The 56-page document lists a series of alleged crimes committed by Israeli forces during and after the raid, including willful killing and torture, and claims there is "clear evidence to support prosecutions."
"A series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces during the interception of the flotilla and during the detention of passengers in Israel prior to deportation," the experts found.
Examining the circumstances of the raid, the panel concluded that a humanitarian crisis existed in Gaza on the day of the incident in Gaza and "for this reason alone the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law."
"The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel toward the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality," the report said.
Foreign Ministry blasts report as biased
The Foreign Ministry responded late Wednesday by saying the Human Rights Council had a "biased, politicized and extremist approach."
"The Human Rights Council blamed Israel prior to the investigation and it is no surprise that they condemn after," said Andy David, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, referring to the 47-member body's resolution in early June condemning the raid.
Israel refused to cooperate with the panel, preferring instead to work with a separate UN group under New Zealand's former Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe that is also examining the incident but has yet to publish its findings.
"Israel is a democratic and law abiding country that carefully observes international law and, when need be, knows how to investigate itself," the Foreign Ministry statement said. "That is how Israel has always acted, and that is the way in which investigations were conducted following Operation Cast Lead, launched to protect the inhabitants of southern Israel from rockets and terror attacks carried out by Hamas from Gaza."
Zoabi was keen to praise the "professionalism and fairness in [the Human Rights Council's fact finding mission's] efforts to reveal the truth."
RELATED:PM to quit UN panel if soldiers probed
Analysis: 2 blockades of Gaza exist
‘Our minarets are our lances’
She also called on Israel to move forward with the findings of the panel and to indict the Israeli citizens responsible for the Mavi Marmara boarding operation.
"We must not settle for declarations of condemnation but we must work to put the criminals to justice, those who ordered and those who carried out the orders," Zoabi said.
She added, "All attempts of character assassination will not make Israel appear innocent."
Zoabi was one of the flotilla participants aboard the Mavi Marmara when it was boarded by IDF naval commandos.
Earlier on Wednesday, three UN-appointed human rights experts announced there findings that Israeli forces violated international law when they raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla killing nine activists earlier this year.
The UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission concluded that the naval blockade of Gaza was unlawful because of the humanitarian crisis there, and described the military raid on the flotilla as brutal and disproportionate.
The 56-page document lists a series of alleged crimes committed by Israeli forces during and after the raid, including willful killing and torture, and claims there is "clear evidence to support prosecutions."
"A series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces during the interception of the flotilla and during the detention of passengers in Israel prior to deportation," the experts found.
Examining the circumstances of the raid, the panel concluded that a humanitarian crisis existed in Gaza on the day of the incident in Gaza and "for this reason alone the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law."
"The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel toward the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality," the report said.
Foreign Ministry blasts report as biased
The Foreign Ministry responded late Wednesday by saying the Human Rights Council had a "biased, politicized and extremist approach."
"The Human Rights Council blamed Israel prior to the investigation and it is no surprise that they condemn after," said Andy David, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, referring to the 47-member body's resolution in early June condemning the raid.
Israel refused to cooperate with the panel, preferring instead to work with a separate UN group under New Zealand's former Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe that is also examining the incident but has yet to publish its findings.
"Israel is a democratic and law abiding country that carefully observes international law and, when need be, knows how to investigate itself," the Foreign Ministry statement said. "That is how Israel has always acted, and that is the way in which investigations were conducted following Operation Cast Lead, launched to protect the inhabitants of southern Israel from rockets and terror attacks carried out by Hamas from Gaza."
Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman said the report emphasized that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories violates human rights "not only against Palestinian people but against innocent people who came to show their sympathy."
"Now it's required to be a mechanism in order to translate this report into action and to bring the occupation commanders to trial for the crimes they committed," Barhoum said.
The Human Rights Council's report was compiled by former UN war crimes prosecutor Desmond de Silva, Trinidadian judge Karl T. Hudson-Phillips and Malaysian women's rights advocate Mary Shanthi Dairiam. It is scheduled to be presented to the council on Monday.
"Now it's required to be a mechanism in order to translate this report into action and to bring the occupation commanders to trial for the crimes they committed," Barhoum said.
The Human Rights Council's report was compiled by former UN war crimes prosecutor Desmond de Silva, Trinidadian judge Karl T. Hudson-Phillips and Malaysian women's rights advocate Mary Shanthi Dairiam. It is scheduled to be presented to the council on Monday.
