Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 15, 2009 Nisan 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 18:47 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 22:00 15/12/2008
Israel expels UN rights envoy who compared Israelis to Nazis
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: UN, human rights, Israel News

Professor Richard Falk, a United Nations envoy who once sparked controversy by comparing Israelis to Nazis, has been barred entry to Israel and was put on a plane bound out of the country early on Monday.

In March, the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council appointed Falk, a Jewish American and professor emeritus at Princeton University, to a six-year term monitoring the human rights situation as UN Special Rapporteur in the Palestinian territories.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said in September that it would not allow Falk to enter the country, after the BBC quoted Falk as defending statements he made last year equating Israel's treatment of Palestinians with Nazi treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. Falk told BBC that Israel had been unfairly shielded from international criticism.
Advertisement

Israel has also complained that Falk's mandate as an investigator was confined to human rights violations by Israel toward Palestinians and did not encompass violations by Palestinians toward Israelis.

Falk had been scheduled to hold meetings in Ramallah in the coming days with representatives of many human rights organizations.

The Adalah rights organization Monday sent an urgent letter to Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, demanding that they lift the ban on Falk, which it called "a severe blow to the rights of the Palestinian civilian population living under Israeli occupation, a population which must be afforded protection by the occupier under international humanitarian law.

The letter said it was "Israel's obligation as a member of the UN and a signatory to various international human rights conventions to respect the work of UN representatives, to enable their human rights missions and to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities without fear of
repercussions."

Prior to Falk's formal assumption of his duties, Israel had in the past allowed Falk to enter the country. This was the first time he had arrived in Israel in his role as Special Rapporteur.

The Foreign Ministry said that it has been made clear to Falk in advance that he would be denied entry into Israel, and that Israel would not cooperate with him.

"Falk was not invited by Israel, nor did he coordinate the visit, as UN regulations obligated him to do," said Simona Helprin, head of the Foreign Ministry's human rights department.

"It is indeed rare that Israel bars entry in this manner, but we cannot accept a situation in which an envoy arrives about whom it is known in advance that he will not carry out his role properly."

According to Helprin, the UN is under an obligation to see that its envoys are objective and fair, while Falk has compared the situation in the territories with that of the Nazi Holocaust. "From Israel's standpoint, he is not objective," she said.

The council's previous investigator, John Dugard from South Africa, compared Israeli treatment of Palestinians to apartheid, the discriminatory policy of the previous white regime in South Africa toward blacks.









Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Proposed sanctions
Dutch Labor Party proposes sanctions against Israel if it thwarts peace process.
False alarm
Delta flight gets IAF fighter jet escort after pilot activates anti-hijack warning system.
  1.   Bravo! He`s an ugly hypocrite,riding on the ever growing dough 13:42  |  Absolute Sweden 15/12/08
  2.   Correct decision. Enemy of Israel has nothing to do in Israel. 13:55  |  Vittorio 15/12/08
  3.   the only other worse nomination than Falk could be Eichmann 13:57  |  CM 15/12/08
  4.   Truth hurts 14:00  |  Al 15/12/08
  5.   Get out and stay out 14:01  |  x-ray 15/12/08
  6.   hallo someone has backbone at last it must be the elections 14:02  |  victor hardman 15/12/08
  7.   The world is tired of the occupier shouting wolf! 14:06  |  American 15/12/08
  8.   No Al thruth does not hurt UN does hurt truth 14:24  |  CM 15/12/08
  9.   falk 14:29  |  iletzter 15/12/08
  10.   The `only democracy in the ME`.. 14:32  |  Frank 15/12/08
  11.   The occupation IS indefensible. 14:33  |  Michael 15/12/08
  12.   nice 14:41  |  rm 15/12/08
  13.   Israel fears an honest Jew 14:43  |  Boycott 15/12/08
  14.   Has Anyone seen SKELETAL-LOOKING Palestinians 14:49  |  Natasha 15/12/08
  15.   Truth hurts 14:52  |  W 15/12/08
  16.   Could have been exchanged for Shalit 14:56  |  Realist 15/12/08
  17.   strange that first of all those who work on authority of... 15:06  |  scallywag 15/12/08
  18.   UN Human rights like Durban II 15:20  |  George 15/12/08
  19.   Michael from the UK 15:26  |  George 15/12/08
  20.   Comparing Israel to Nazis? Not valid at the moment 15:32  |  Natallie Durson 15/12/08
  21.   You`re wrong 15:37  |  Steven 15/12/08
  22.   The good news 15:49  |  zaz 15/12/08
  23.   cheap moral posturing should pay own way 16:04  |  Paul Freedman 15/12/08
  24.   beware of the antisemitic left 16:13  |  Suisse (rightie) 15/12/08
  25.   to Natalie no, the comparizon is not a joke 16:16  |  CM 15/12/08
  26.   Correction to Durson on the Nazis 16:17  |  Israeli cititzen 15/12/08
  27.   Backbone? 16:18  |  Arie 15/12/08
  28.   To: Natallie Durson 16:21  |  Angel 15/12/08
  29.   zaz 22 16:24  |  ChanahS 15/12/08
  30.   lets see syria wont let in IAEA and izzy wont let in UN rights 16:27  |  izzy want IAEA 15/12/08
  31.   agreed Paul Freedman! israhel should pay its own way 16:35  |  no more welfare 15/12/08
  32.   Falk antisemitism 16:45  |  David Schiby 15/12/08
  33.   Right of Return? 16:46  |  Murray 15/12/08
  34.   PROFESSOR FALK 17:02  |  Norma Dosky 15/12/08
  35.   Excellent and adequate measure ! 17:03  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/12/08
  36.   Professor Falk 17:23  |  Norma Dosky 15/12/08
  37.   George 19 Yes I`ve been to the West Bank. 17:33  |  Michael 15/12/08
  38.   way to go Israel, the only "democracy" in the ME 17:36  |  haar 15/12/08
  39.   Next UN envoy may be in charge with the liquidation of Israel 17:58  |  Robert 15/12/08
  40.   Murray,settler in Milano,US did the same :they didn`t 18:01  |  Absolute Sweden 15/12/08
  41.   Soon They Will Not Allow Anyone In 18:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 15/12/08
  42.   An open minded Jew, a traitor, or what? 18:06  |  Avishai Cohen 15/12/08
  43.   Murray perhaps Italy would give permission 18:06  |  Aby 15/12/08
  44.   The Human Rights Council. 18:11  |  Jean Van Daem 15/12/08
  45.   Haar : freedom of speech or freedom of hate? 18:13  |  Israeli cititzen 15/12/08
  46.   #33 Murray 18:19  |  Yonatan 15/12/08
  47.   #34 Norma Dosky 18:21  |  Yonatan 15/12/08
  48.   Freedom of speech 18:30  |  Angel 15/12/08
  49.   UN Falk 18:31  |  Fredy Ross 15/12/08
  50.   Murray #33 18:33  |  Gee 15/12/08
  51.   Israel Expels Professor Falk 18:35  |  Mark Watkins 15/12/08
  52.   haar #36 18:37  |  Gee 15/12/08
  53.   Natallie 18:46  |  Ehud 15/12/08
  54.   Shame on Israel 18:47  |  Eric 15/12/08
  55.   Israel can`t ban the truth about its human rights violations. 18:50  |  Dutch 15/12/08
  56.   Robert, #37 18:50  |  David 15/12/08
  57.   hail the honest jew , Falk 18:51  |  FalluJah 15/12/08
  58.   Not good enough to have a 18:51  |  Roo 15/12/08
  59.   to Murray right of return is not about it 18:55  |  CM 15/12/08
  60.   Falk 18:57  |  Steam 15/12/08
  61.   Finally a right dessission , never let him back in 18:57  |  TOMY 15/12/08
  62.   34Norma The indefensible are the human rights abusers in Israel.. 19:00  |  Dutch 15/12/08
  63.   Angel has typical zionist viewpoint: sees faults of others 19:12  |  but not herself 15/12/08
  64.   37, Robert in Switzerland 19:17  |  Henry Blofeld 15/12/08
  65.   Kapoism - Alive and Well 19:27  |  Tod Zuckerman 15/12/08
  66.   He`s American, he`s Jewish, he`s professor emeritus 19:29  |  Roo 15/12/08
  67.   Well done, Israel 19:37  |  judith 15/12/08
  68.   fair and just representative for UN HR Watch 19:38  |  David Normann 15/12/08
  69.   #60 Roo , you did not fihish , and he is an 21:15  |  TOMY 15/12/08
  70.   Israel and bad PR... 22:00  |  BBSNews 15/12/08
  71.   #70, BBSNews...PR couldn`t get much worse.. 22:16  |  Silvienne 15/12/08
  72.   Israel acted rashly expelling professor Falk 22:38  |  Ivar 15/12/08
  73.   Only if.... 23:45  |  Ines 15/12/08
  74.   #70 bbs news 00:46  |  Evan 16/12/08
  75.   Israel expels UN rights envoy who compared Israelis to Nazis 01:32  |  n_erber 16/12/08
  76.   Ines, no double standard... 01:42  |  BBSNews 16/12/08
  77.   does expelling him invalidate the comparison? 03:09  |  American in NY 16/12/08
  78.   #74 BBS 04:23  |  Evan 16/12/08
  79.   I`m happy to see .. 06:31  |  ragged_soul 16/12/08
  80.   BSNews and never missing an opportunity 08:04  |  SDHD 16/12/08
  81.   BSNews -- the "occupation" isn`t illegal 08:05  |  SDHD 16/12/08
  82.   Manhandling of UN J e w i s h envoy 09:13  |  H.H.M. 16/12/08
  83.   #81 SDHD 18:16  |  ballistic 16/12/08
  84.   #47 22:28  |  Norma Dosky 16/12/08
  85.   watch that European left 07:38  |  unhuman rights 17/12/08
  86.   role of Swiss banks??? 07:40  |  Jane 17/12/08
  87.   spot on David Schiby 07:42  |  Thanks 17/12/08
  88.   out and stay out 07:53  |  BRAVO 17/12/08
  89.   Richard Falk 18:43  |  Ava 18/12/08
 Haaretz Hot Topics
Air strike in Sudan
Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
Conflict in Gaza
Israel vs. Hamas
Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
More Headlines
18:29 Iran: Israel to blame for Egypt-Hezbollah row
17:23 'Israel unlikely to assist UN war crimes probe'
18:04 Egypt police detain Palestinians, find explosives near Gaza
15:00 BBC panel finds broadcaster breached guidelines on Israel
17:18 Ahmadinejad: We'll present new proposals over nuclear program
12:43 Mitchell due to arrive in Israel on second leg of Mideast trip
09:02 What are the origins of Muslim anti-Semitism?
10:47 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
12:47 Russia denies selling Iran anti-aircraft missiles
13:26 Trial begins of only gunman captured during Mumbai terror attacks
15:31 Turkey calls for Mideast free of nuclear weapons
13:34 Jordan convicts three Hamas militants who operated in country
11:10 Twelve injured as strong winds batter the south
16:27 WATCH: American Idol star Adam Lambert singing in Hebrew
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
The Meier on Rothschild Tower
Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved