UN panel backs critical Gaza flotilla raid report
While flotilla raid report says Israel committed 'grave violations of human rights,' the council stopped short of pressing for an international criminal inquiry.
By Reuters Tags: Israel news Gaza flotilla UNThe United Nations Human Rights Council Wednesday endorsed a fiercely critical report on Israel's raid on a Gaza aid flotilla in May but stopped short of pressing for an international criminal inquiry.
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A session of the Human Rights Council at the UN European headquarters in Geneva, May 31, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
It also renewed the mandate of separate investigation team that has been looking into whether Israelis and Palestinians have been properly investigating alleged rights abuses during the 3-week Gaza conflict in 2008-2009.
But there was no indication in two separate resolutions tabled at the 47-nation council by the Organization of Islamic States (OIC) that Israel's critics were aiming to have it taken soon before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
That possibility was raised Tuesday by a British judge on the council-appointed team that investigated the flotilla raid on May 31, in which nine pro-Palestinian activists, mainly Turks, were killed by Israeli commandos.
Palestinian rights campaigners in Geneva for the council session told reporters that they wanted Israel taken immediately to the ICC over the Gaza fighting in December 2009 and January 2009, in which more than 1,400 Palestinians died.
But diplomats said both resolutions appeared to take heed of public and private appeals from Western countries and the Palestinian Authority to avoid any action that would create new difficulties for the renewed Middle East peace process.
Discussion next year
However, the two texts, passed easily in the council where Islamic states and their allies who include Russia and China, have a majority, did call for new discussion on both issues at its session in March and April next year.
This left open the possibility that a firm move to have Israel put before the ICC, an action that would have to be endorsed in the U.N. Security Council, could be launched then if the already troubled peace talks lead nowhere.
The United States, the main promoter of the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, voted against the two texts from the 57-nation OIC, saying nothing should be done that would spoil the prospects for peace.
The flotilla raid report, presented to the council on Tuesday, said Israel had committed "grave violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law" in the incident, in international waters off Gaza.
Israel, which maintains a blockade against Islamist Hamas-controlled Gaza, says pro-Palestinian activists on one of the ships aiming to deliver humanitarian supplies to the enclave, died when they attacked its commandoes.
The raid resolution, presented by Pakistan for the OIC and effectively calling on Israel to try troops guilty of violence, was passed in the 47-nation council with 30 votes in favour, one -- the United States -- against, and 15 abstentions.
The seven European Union members on the body abstained, joining the United States in saying that the text failed to recognize that another flotilla inquiry set up by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took primacy.
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The author is mistaken regarding the nature of the ICC and the possibility of Israel being brought before it. The security council does not have to approve such an undertaking if any one UN organ (for example, the human rights council) asks for an advisory opinion. However, no ICC verdict is binding unless all participants agree ahead of time to make the trial binding.
israel understood.
Your country is nothing more than a safe haven for criminals and a university for aspiring crooks!
http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1313923&ct=8441163
or else the flotilla raid would immediately be referred to the ICC. But, to nobody's surprise, 'honest broker' US, champion of the 'free world' and democratic values, once again bailed out Israel, the oxymoronic 'Jewish and democratic' stae, and the EU puppets followed suit by abstaining - in order not to disturb the peace process from which the elected government of the Palestinians has been excluded.
http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1313923&ct=8712105
Our commitment is to truth and justice. Our government's commitment is to maintaining a facade that protects it's leaders. The righteous will prevail over irrationality and zealotry.
When you don't like what any investigative panel says, you can dismiss it as "biased". The world did not need this UN panel to find out that Israel once again, acted inappropriately, and blamed the victims. Shame on the US for once again, being Israel's protector.
Turkey is probably the nation that voted on taking out the text for a real "international inquiry" from the UNHRC report and probably lobbied behind the scenes for this.
The contrast between incriminating at every opportunity and the refusal for any constructive contribution on behalf of Israel delineates a major area for revitalisation of the UN. Indeed. Observing (i.) the UN core and historic mission of mastering international conflicts properly, (ii.) the geopolitical priority of the ME-conflict and (iii.) the proven increase of international conflict by all sorts of Improvised Exportation Demagogy - by sea, by air or by land - the most urgent obligation of the UN Security Council is now to issue a resolution imposing – punishable by criminal negligence - on all relevant countries every measure to redirect all ‘humanitarian’ aid to supply chains run by either George Soros or by UN-services or by efficient governmental organisations.
what a shameless rigged body the UN is...full of hypocrites, full of despots, full of human rights transgressors. Israel is morally superior to all of you scumbags
Morally speaking, Israel is a midget that embraces racism, ethnic discimination and mass repression.
full of hypocrites ... full of despots ... full of ... are you talking about the UN or the Israeli government? It's hard for me to tell.
So you claim that the only "unbiased" country in this voting is the US since it is the ONLY country voted against the report. The government of Israel, please give up your arrogance. Accept your mistake and apologise. As a Turk, I won't vote any party which builds good relations with israel before she apologises
Islamic states, China, and Russia, bastions of human rights? Every criticism by these countries is a badge of honor. Every vote makes clear how human rights and the United Nations have been perverted.
None of the countries you mention attacked a delegation of dignitaries from 40 different countries. I know you call them terrorists, but that is YOUR problem.
Israel refused to cooperate with an earlier HRC committee, the famed Goldstone committee. In the Goldstone case, the HRC has made an heroic effort to please Israel, appointing as head a Zionist Jew. What more can one expect? But still Israel refused to cooperate. There is reason to regret this non-cooperation because Israelis might end up in the Hague. The present committee on the "flotilla" was also shunned by Israel even though its members are not known to be biased as anti Israel. The IDF released a film showing its soldiers being attacked. Well, how much footage remained on the cutting floor and what did it show? The other side produced eyewitness testimonies. And as far as the illegality of the Gaza blockade, I am sure this is a question which is less than clear cut and can be argued by legal authorities. But I would worry.
as the saying goes. Cast Lead and the flotilla incident will hound Israel for a very long time to come.
Apparently Israel acting in self-defense makes you and other Israel-haters uncomfortable. We can live with that for a very long time to come.
the sooner the better
the establishment of a Palestinian State, no one will care except for Hammas, Iran, and Nasrellah.
You know very well it would have mad not difference. The minds of the committees were made up before they even started. Would you cooperate with a kangoaroo court set up against you?