Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• This one-sided resolution strongly and repeatedly criticizes Israel and perpetuates a committee with the blatantly biased mandate of examining only Israeli actions, while ignoring Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah terrorism. Contrary to international law and resolution 242, it claims that occupation itself is a human rights violation.
• The resolution also falsely accuses Israel of indiscriminate force against civilians and provocations and incitements against “the holy places.” At the same time, it completely ignores Palestinian use of the Al Aqsa Mosque as a vehicle for antisemitic incitement, thereby also denying the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount. Furthermore, the one-sided accusation against Israel disregards Palestinian attacks against Jewish holy sites, such as Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus.

Main Sponsors

Namibia

Vote

Yes - 80, No - 18, Abstain - 73, Absent - 22

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, and deeply concerned by the ensuing persistent and systematic violations of international law committed by Israel..."
• "Gravely concerned by reports regarding serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law."
• "Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories..."
• "Expresses grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns and calls for the immediate cessation of all illegal Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the wall, the lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, as well as a complete cessation of the excessive and indiscriminate use of force and military operations against the civilian population...provocations and incitements regarding the holy places..."
• "Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem..."