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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 07:45 30/09/2007 UN human rights chief: We failed in handling Israel-PA conflict By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service The president of the United Nations Human Rights Council conceded on Saturday that the organization had failed in its handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In an interview published by the Swiss daily "Le Temps", Doru Romulus Costea was asked whether he was satisfied with the way the council had handled the conflict, to which he answered "at this point, the council has failed." "The Palestinian issue is very complex. It has many facets. The council must remain modest and stay within the confines of issues pertaining to it ? those of human rights. However, the council must examine the actions of both sides, not only one side," Costea said. Advertisement Prior to taking office as the president of the Human Rights Council in June, Costea served as the Romanian ambassador to Egypt Oman and Kuwait. In the interview, Costea was asked to respond to the address given by U.S. President George W. Bush earlier this week before the UN General Assembly, in which the American leader heaped criticism on the Human Rights Council saying it attacks Israel regularly but withholds criticism on other major human rights violators around the world. Bush added that if the UN wanted to regain its credibility it must carry out reforms in the Human Rights Council. Costea responded that "I agree with him. We must continuously improve the way the council functions. Now that the council has been renewed, it must be examined. It would be dangerous to establish a different council before giving this one a chance." The Human Rights Council was established some 18 months ago by the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. It was established in the place of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which was dismantled after members were accused of abusing their power. The criticism against the former human rights body was based in part on the claim that the council routinely criticized Israel and arbitrarily supported resolutions that condemned Israel. The Human Rights Council appointed to replace the defunct UNCHR has also focused on Israel's policy in the Palestinian Authority, and many of its resolutions have included condemnations of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. Bookmark to del.icio.us Group goals Hapoel T.A. could be given either death or a dream in the UEFA Cup group stage draw. Bandits on wheels The new vehicles most often stolen in September were Sanyung motorbikes.   1.   Israel - palestine 20:57  |  colin 29/09/07   2.   Nothing will Change.... 21:10  |  Robert 29/09/07   3.   Now Let`s See If They Back It Up With Action 21:12  |  Jane 29/09/07   4.   Does it really takes a commite ora council 21:13  |  Hypocricy Monitor 29/09/07   5.   Bash bash bash Israel... Arabs are innocent like newborn baby 21:35  |  Alan 29/09/07   6.   UNHRC 21:43  |  Ron 29/09/07   7.   A. Haas&G. Levy, you`ve been warned! 21:51  |  Buzaglow 29/09/07   8.   Can change the name, but not the mission: to bash Israel 21:56  |  Jason from colorado 29/09/07   9.   The penny just dropped for the UNHRC - Eureka! 22:06  |  Esther 29/09/07   10.   HE IS A JOKE. 22:35  |  JACKAL 29/09/07   11.   UNHRC it`s about time!!! 23:01  |  Lynn 29/09/07   12.   The UN is a Joke 23:03  |  ottomatik 29/09/07   13.   Only one Israeli made peace with PA 23:15  |  Paul 29/09/07   14.   human rites 23:24  |  real vision 29/09/07   15.   Human rights in Gaza, is UNHRC going to investigate the latest? 23:31  |  Genuine Tosefta 29/09/07   16.   the solution is time allocated on pro rata basis per country 23:36  |  victor hardman 29/09/07   17.   Important insight, on the path to solving issue at hand 00:00  |  Johnny 30/09/07   18.   Hypocricy Monitor #4, try reading 00:16  |  Denton 30/09/07   19.   Another gruesome honour killing in Gaza - human rights? 00:25  |  Dakkar 30/09/07   20.   Un Human rights Chief says" We Failed" Yes You Did 00:26  |  Shepherd 30/09/07   21.   If the Human Rights Council existed during the holocaust... 00:31  |  rehovot 30/09/07   22.   Speaking of Hypocrisy #4......................................... 00:36  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/09/07   23.   #10 jackal 01:05  |  Sarah 30/09/07   24.   help me #4 monitor 01:49  |  ami 30/09/07   25.   looks like this guy is ready for retirement 01:52  |  ami 30/09/07   26.   Indigenous people 02:04  |  Paul 30/09/07   27.   The Moon is not cheese 02:22  |  Omran 30/09/07   28.   He is right. Check here for details 02:49  |  Newil 30/09/07   29.   OH PLEASE! Let`s Review The Facts. PALESTINIANS Are The Victims! 03:10  |  Proud Pal Defender 30/09/07   30.   Thanks for the Arab proverb Omran. What does it have to do with.. 03:20  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/09/07   31.   More Pennies - and Bribes 03:36  |  Truth Approached 30/09/07   32.   Newil, Twisted logic 04:05  |  Bruce 30/09/07   33.   re: Hypocricy Monitor 04:09  |  Efox 30/09/07   34.   Omran, The Moon is not cheese 04:09  |  Bruce 30/09/07   35.   re: Omran 04:10  |  Efox 30/09/07   36.   OH PLEASE! Let`s Review The Facts. PALESTINIANS Are The Victims! 04:21  |  Proud Pal Defender 30/09/07   37.   UN human rights chief: We failed in handling Israel-PA conflict 04:56  |  Just Wondering 30/09/07   38.   Was the space intended or not? Unhuman rights? 05:16  |  Really 30/09/07   39.   America, Israel, and the UN 05:26  |  Natallie Durson 30/09/07   40.   #36 proud Pal Defender 05:44  |  Lynn 30/09/07   41.   Palestinian problem is an artificial problem 06:26  |  EU citizen 30/09/07   42.   Big Failure Acknowledged. Better Late than Never 06:39  |  phillipe theodosius 30/09/07   43.   Well Arabs are not angels who would have thought from UN records 06:58  |  PETER SM 30/09/07   44.   Eyewitnesses. No 19 08:07  |  Honour killing 30/09/07   45.   Literary wonder 08:07  |  fedup 30/09/07   46.   Time to close the damned thing 08:28  |  Daniel 30/09/07   47.   PSS..SSST, DON`T TALK TOO LOUD, BABY 08:32  |  indrajaya 30/09/07   48.   #36oh to see oosells as others see us" pat the noodle 08:41  |  victor hardman 30/09/07   49.   Duh...tell me something I don`t know 09:15  |  Evan 30/09/07   50.   There needs to be a serious change in attitude 10:18  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 30/09/07   51.   #39 natalie d says ISRAEL BASHERS here are LIARS` 11:08  |  CK Tan 30/09/07   52.   The UN Chief should give it to Israelis straight 12:10  |  Dutch 30/09/07   53.   Why Muslims always justify their cruelty and murder??? 14:47  |  Mata 30/09/07   54.   It`s the history of the Popes! 23:56  |  Paul 01/10/07   55.   Human rights 17:33  |  Mikey 10/10/07

Today Online Amir Oren: Extremist Islam is the enemy, not the Palestinians Responses: 111 Ephraim Sneh: When it comes to Iran, Israel must expect the worst Responses: 52 Abbas lays out first precise demands for Palestinian borders Responses: 122 German historian publishes chilling read: Hitler's fan mail Responses: 46 U.S. gov't said split over Israeli intel on N. Korea- Syria ties Responses: 50 Haaretz TV: Many East J'lem residents are on 'wrong' side of fence Responses: 2 Rosner's Domain * Romney's position on attacking Iran? better ask his lawyers * WTR: The debate over Tutu * Understanding the Israeli Attack on Syria * Poll: A divided Jerusalem? More Headlines 13:50 Abbas lays out first precise demands for Palestinian borders 17:37 High Court: Labor laws to apply to Palestinians in settlements 13:10 New York Times: U.S. gov't split over Israeli data on Syria-N. Korea ties 16:50 Palestinian-born Jewish convert convicted of aiding Islamic Jihad 15:20 Poland honors 20 who risked lives to save Jews in WWII 15:02 PA sources: IDF kills Fatah militant, wounds another in Nablus raid 17:32 PA: Israel grants permanent residency to 3,500 West Bank Palestinians 17:31 Despite strike, classes to resume in Gaza envelope schools Thurs. 14:02 German historian publishes chilling read: Hitler's fan mail 13:53 Russian President says Iran is not building a nuclear weapon Previous Editions Select Day 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 05 oct 04 oct 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 28 sep 27 sep 26 sep

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