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Last update - 20:53 06/03/2008 UN Human Rights Council condemns IDF actions in Gaza By Reuters Tags:   The United Nations Human Rights Council condemned Israel's military action in Gaza at the behest of Pakistan and other Muslim states on Thursday. The UN's top human rights body agreed on a resolution proclaiming that the Israel Defense Forces incursions into the Palestinian territory inflicted collective punishment on the civilian population. The resolution also calls for Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza into Israel to be stopped. More than 120 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed over the past two weeks in military actions and rocket strikes. Advertisement The 47-member rights body approved the resolution by 33 votes to one after a debate on the situation in Gaza. Thirteen countries abstained. Russia, China and India supported the resolution. European countries abstained. Canada voted against. Earlier Thursday, Muslim countries accused Israel of committing war crimes and called on the Human Rights Council to condemn Israel's collective punishment of the residents of Gaza. Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), presented a draft resolution which Israel's envoy promptly dismissed as "political posturing." The text, which was also sponsored by the League of Arab States, demands an immediate halt to IDF attacks on the Gaza Strip as well as the firing of crude rockets by Palestinian militants into southern Israel. It condemns persistent IDF attacks on Gaza and accuses Israel of "inflicting collective punishment against the civilian population, which constitutes a war crime." "Israel has resorted to use of disproportionate force, deliberate destruction of infrastructure and killing of civilians," Pakistan's ambassador Masood Khan told the UN Human Rights Council. He said that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in less than one year, including 125 in the last week when Israel conducted a sweep against Palestinian rocket crews. Israeli forces withdrew from northern Gaza on Monday but sporadic fighting has persisted. The Human Rights Council, whose 47 members are holding a four-week session to examine violations worldwide, is expected to adopt the resolution later on Thursday, diplomats said. Since being set up in June 2006, the Council has rebuked Israel three times for abuses in the Palestinian territories. Israel's envoy Itzhak Levanon, recalling previous "one-sided resolutions", accused Muslim countries of abusing the forum. But Palestinian ambassador Mohammad Abu-Koash said Israel needed to be held accountable for committing "atrocities against an unprotected civilian population once again left at the mercy of its occupier that doesn't hesitate to use F-16s to pound homes and bury whole families under the debris." "The right of self-defense is not an exclusive Israeli right. It is a Palestinian right too," Abu-Koash said. The European Union, which has seven member countries on the Council, said rocket attacks on Israeli areas had to cease. "Palestinian factions in Gaza must stop these attacks ... and make every effort to fight terrorism," it said, also urging Israel to "exercise the utmost restraint" in its self-defence. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour expressed alarm at the magnitude of violence on both sides of the conflict and at Israel's "disproportionate use of force." "The protection of human rights and in particular of civilian lives cannot await the outcome of a political process," the former UN war crimes prosecutor said in a speech. Arbour called on both Israeli and Palestinian authorities to investigate civilian killings and to make sure perpetrators are held accountable. In a report on Thursday, British aid and rights groups said that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip had created the worst humanitarian crisis since the Israeli occupation began in 1967. The coalition including CARE International said that 1.5 million Palestinians faced food shortages, crumbling health services, and a water and sewage system close to collapse. Related articles: UN rights body holds moment of silence for Gaza 'martyrs' Rights group: More than 50 percent of Gaza casualties weren't militants Thousands rally across Mideast to protest IDF attacks on Gaza Gaza protest of Israeli blockade yields disappointing turnout Bookmark to del.icio.us   State policy Olmert approves plan for 750 new homes in West Bank settlement of Givat Ze'ev. Sticking to his story Director of 'Jenin, Jenin' swears there are no falsehoods in his movie.   1.   India`s ambassador to the PA went to Ramallah & while there 19:19  |  lakshmi 06/03/08   2.   Who calls on UN rights body to condemn TURKEY`s Kurdish incursion 19:36  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/03/08   3.   Condemnation more than justified 20:30  |  gearoid 06/03/08   4.   darfur: 20:40  |  tasleema 06/03/08   5.   "UN Human Rights Council" 21:13  |  Tom 06/03/08   6.   gearoid 21:20  |  Tom 06/03/08   7.   gearoid-lakshmi when have you ever expressed 1% of Darfur concern 21:47  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/03/08   8.   SAy Something HUman Rights 23:32  |  TOBIA 06/03/08   9.   #1 did he mention indias untouchables lacking? 23:49  |  v hardman 06/03/08   10.   8 MURDERED YESHIVAH STUDENTS.ARE THEY WORTH A MINUTE`S SILENCE? 00:47  |  Ian 07/03/08   11.   Tosefta (2) 01:08  |  jjvanka 07/03/08   12.   Exactly, Tasleema & Genuine Tosefta 01:11  |  Polybios 07/03/08   13.   every one of those nations that abstained must be held to task 01:39  |  ralph 07/03/08   14.   every one of those nations that abstained must be held to task 01:39  |  ralph 07/03/08   15.   Tom, Denver 01:49  |  gearoid 07/03/08   16.   jjvanka you have same lame excuse Turks do for Armenian genocide 03:14  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/03/08   17.   Moslems condemning Israeli violence 15:43  |  Eli 07/03/08   18.   UN - terrorist`s headquarters 18:09  |  George Duraisingh 07/03/08   19.   collective punisment is preventable 21:02  |  joefiasco 07/03/08   20.   Buck up Israel 08:26  |  betz55 08/03/08   21.   I condemn the UN 21:43  |  leo 08/03/08   22.   disproportionate force. Lob mortars back 15:41  |  d.dor 09/03/08   23.   Arbour is pie in the sky 19:27  |  Rick Gross 09/03/08

Today Online Palestinians: Hamas, Hezbollah cooperated on Jerusalem attack Responses: 186 Shin Bet chief: Chances of fresh Intifada are low Responses: 77 Gideon Levy: Mercaz Harav produced the rabbis who led the vilest form of Zionism Responses: 153 Editorial: Peace now, or eternal conflict later Responses: 56 Kuwaiti analyst: Best if Israel, not U.S., destroys Iran nukes Responses: 62 Jewish Agency to start anti-terror drive in wake of J'lem attack Responses: 45 Rosner's Domain Whose Jerusalem Is It, anyway? Poll: Should Abbas and Olmert continue their talks? An Israeli and a crocodile (WTR) The Israel Factor: What's wrong with Obama? Rosner's Mailbox: Stop focusing on Israel's favorability polls More Headlines 03:08 State orders IDF to curb strikes against Hamas 02:59 Mercaz Harav yeshiva tells Olmert he's not welcome to visit 23:04 Shin Bet chief: Chances of fresh Intifada in 2008 are low 03:46 ANALYSIS: The lull in rockets is not due to an Israel-Hamas deal 02:13 Amos Oz: Left wing can return to power in next elections 02:43 Fallen IDF soldier Banai defied deaf parents to join combat unit 03:17 AJC leader urges Israel to give conference 'Durban 2' a chance 00:41 Palestinians protest Goldie Hawn appearance at JNF event 22:08 'Jenin, Jenin' director tells court film based entirely on truth 22:48 Minister Boim accuses IAEA chief of serving as agent for Iran 04:05 Civilian national service fails to attract yeshiva students 00:16 Holocaust museum to honor Helena Bonham Carter's grandfather for saving Jews Previous Editions Select Day 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb

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