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Last update - 19:45 26/02/2008
UN expert: Palestinian terror 'inevitable' result of occupation
By The Associated Press
Tags: human rights, Palestinians 

A report commissioned by the United Nations suggests that Palestinian terrorism is the inevitable consequence of Israeli occupation and laws that resemble South African apartheid - a claim Israel rejected Tuesday
as enflaming hatred between Jews and Palestinians.

The report by John Dugard, independent investigator on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the UN Human Rights Council, will be presented next month, but it has been posted on the body's Web site.
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In it, Dugard, a South African lawyer who campaigned against apartheid in the 1980s, says "common sense ... dictates that a distinction must be drawn between acts of mindless terror, such as acts committed by Al-Qaida, and acts committed in the course of a war of national liberation against colonialism, apartheid or military occupation."

"While Palestinian terrorist acts are to be deplored, they must be understood as being a painful but inevitable consequence of colonialism, apartheid or occupation," writes Dugard, whose 25-page report accuses the Israel of acts and policies consistent with all three.

He cited checkpoints and roadblocks restricting Palestinian movement to house demolitions and what he terms the Judaization of Jerusalem.

"As long as there is occupation, there will be terrorism," he argues.

"Acts of terror against military occupation must be seen in historical context," Dugard says. "This is why every effort should be made to bring the occupation to a speedy end. Until this is done, peace cannot be expected, and violence will continue."

Israel's UN ambassador in Geneva slammed Dugard's analysis.

"The common link between Al-Qaida and the Palestinian terrorists is that both intentionally target civilians with the mere purpose to kill," Itzhak Levanon said. "The fact that Professor Dugard is ignoring this essential fact, demonstrates his inability to use objectivity in his assessment."

"Professor Dugard will better serve the cause of peace by ceasing to enflame the hatred between Israelis and Palestinians, who have embarked on serious talks to solve this contentious situation."

Dugard was appointed in 2001 as an unpaid expert by the now-defunct UN Human Rights Commission to investigate only violations by the Israeli side, prompting Israel and the U.S. to dismiss his reports as one-sided. Israel refused to allow him to conduct a UN-mandated fact-finding mission on its Gaza offensive in 2006.

The report will be presented next month at the 47-nation rights council's
first regular session of the year. The new body has been widely criticized - even by its founder, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan - for spending most of its time criticizing one government, Israel's, over alleged abuses.

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      1.   What`s the difference between blacks and palestinians? 19:48  |  David 26/02/08
      2.   PURE IGNORANCE 19:49  |  ANUAR AL SADAT 26/02/08
      3.   U.N. history books 19:51  |  Denton 26/02/08
      4.   Bravo ...someone said the Truth . 19:56  |  John Adams 26/02/08
      5.   Can you hear the howls of protest already? ;-) 19:56  |  Motti 26/02/08
      6.   Well Well Well 19:56  |  Fish 26/02/08
      7.   UN on terror. 19:56  |  leo 26/02/08
      8.   Mr. "UN expert" 19:57  |  Jean Van Daem 26/02/08
      9.   Man who speaks the truth despite any pressure on him 19:57  |  Ray 26/02/08
      10.   doesn`t explain PLO 19:57  |  Paul Freedman 26/02/08
      11.   Brainwashed Dugard 19:57  |  rob 26/02/08
      12.   Reading that guy is like... 19:58  |  Civilized 26/02/08
      13.   UN "expert" now parroting the Hamas party line 19:59  |  Polybios 26/02/08
      14.   Inevetible Carpet Bombing of Gaza 19:59  |  I Like Ike 26/02/08
      15.   its always the same guy around 19:59  |  paulo2005 26/02/08
      16.   Not this Dugard nutter again 20:00  |  SystemF 26/02/08
      17.   The real argument 20:00  |  Paul Freedman 26/02/08
      18.   OF COURSE HE IS 20:01  |  indrajaya 26/02/08
      19.   That must be true since THEY KEEP BOMBING US 20:03  |  Yosef 26/02/08
      20.   Rubbish! 20:05  |  Mike 26/02/08
      21.   Dugard of course is 100% correct 20:05  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08
      22.   It`s a purely political report 20:08  |  McQueen 26/02/08
      23.   UN preparing itself for Hussein Obama 20:08  |  Brain 26/02/08
      24.   "The common link between Al-Qaida and Israel... 20:09  |  Dutch Dirk 26/02/08
      25.   What exactly makes Al-Qaeda`s acts "mindless"? 20:10  |  McQueen 26/02/08
      26.   it does not really matter in 20:11  |  cool 26/02/08
      27.   I applaud this!!! 20:13  |  Jay 26/02/08
      28.   Well put, Paul Freedman #10 20:13  |  Polybios 26/02/08
      29.   Palestinian terror `inevitable`result of occupation? 20:13  |  David Nigel Braham 26/02/08
      30.   Consider the Source However... 20:13  |  Jane 26/02/08
      31.   David 20:13  |  tadchase 26/02/08
      32.   Extend his logic to other places 20:15  |  Bob 26/02/08
      33.   Dugard is a liar 20:18  |  maurice 26/02/08
      34.   another brain dead zombi lurching about. 20:22  |  ralph 26/02/08
      35.   Dugard 20:25  |  Edifice 26/02/08
      36.   to cool in Germany #26 20:26  |  Polybios 26/02/08
      37.   UN inevitably Wrong and hateful 20:27  |  David 26/02/08
      38.   TO FISH #6 20:27  |  Steve Beikirch 26/02/08
      39.   `YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH` 20:28  |  KING K 26/02/08
      40.   Yaakov S. #21- I disagree 100%, but have a question 20:31  |  Polybios 26/02/08
      41.   Occupation breeds Civil Revolt (terrorism). 20:33  |  POP 26/02/08
      42.   Occupation breeds Civil Revolt (terrorism). 20:33  |  POP 26/02/08
      43.   John Dugard - "terrorist" 20:35  |  Steven 26/02/08
      44.   What bullsh-t!!! My parents and other survivors were... 20:36  |  bat yam 26/02/08
      45.   Jay #27 - questions for you, too 20:36  |  Polybios 26/02/08
      46.   Jane...#30 20:38  |  Polybios 26/02/08
      47.   What`s the difference between Pals in Israel & WB & Gaza 20:38  |  A Bethlehemite 26/02/08
      48.   Beyond the UN expert is the common sense 20:40  |  V 26/02/08
      49.   Everywhere it`s turning to shite for Israel, I`m happy to say 20:41  |  Clickfool 26/02/08
      50.   TO Jean Van Daem #8 20:41  |  Steve Beikirch 26/02/08
      51.   Yes, and crime is people`s answer to the creation of police 20:53  |  Uri 26/02/08
      52.   POP, civil revolt = suicide-belt terrorism? 20:54  |  Mark B. 26/02/08
      53.   The report is correct. 20:55  |  Ibrahim 26/02/08
      54.   response 20:57  |  salam cantor 26/02/08
      55.   POP - "Occupation breeds Civil Revolt (terrorism)". 20:58  |  17 26/02/08
      56.   except for one point-he overlooked Palestinian terror prior to 48 21:00  |  Jon 26/02/08
      57.   Israel is more than a terrorist state, it is a criminal country 21:04  |  South African 26/02/08
      58.   THE PERFECT PEACE DEAL OF MODERN TIMES , 21:06  |  Robert of Jerusalem 26/02/08
      59.   Ibrahim and the Muslim Brotherhood shell-game 21:06  |  Polybios 26/02/08
      60.   Polybios how can it continue to exist? 21:06  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08
      61.   Dugarrd - rapporter to "UN Human Rights Council" 21:09  |  17 26/02/08
      62.   OCCUPATION INEVITABLE RESULT OF TERROR 21:21  |  judith 26/02/08
      63.   44. wake up, bat yam 21:23  |  justajew 26/02/08
      64.   HRC is USELESS & from inception antisemetic 21:26  |  Lori 26/02/08
      65.   Clickfool 21:27  |  Connie 26/02/08
      66.   PA needs anger management therapy like serious 21:30  |  nonakba 26/02/08
      67.   Read this, Clickfool 21:31  |  Joe Sittizen 26/02/08
      68.   OCCUPATION PROCEEDED TERRORISM ! 21:32  |  Mike 26/02/08
      69.   1929 Hebron Riots - 1936 Revolt??? 21:35  |  Ariel 26/02/08
      70.   that is such a bunch of crap 21:36  |  ralph 26/02/08
      71.   # 53 Ibrahim...on fair and neutral 21:37  |  Lynn 26/02/08
      72.   Steve Beikirch - A Wandring Mind