Regarding the recent UN Human Rights Councils resolution condemning Israels attack on Gaza: Israel, speaking as a concerned country, asked again why the Council believed that naming and shaming of Israel would achieve anything. Israel had shown its utmost restraint and agreed to a number of ceasefire arrangements, but then had no choice but to start the current operation. Israel had no interest to be in Gaza, from which it had withdrawn in 2005. Israel’s attacks in Gaza targeted exclusively Hamas military targets and did what it could to avoid any collateral damage. A special commission of inquiry had been established by Israel to look into possible violations of human rights, well beyond the requirements of international law. Hamas was the aggressor, the one committing war crimes – the Council should open its eyes to the truth. The United States, speaking in an explanation of the vote before the vote, said it remained gravely concerned about the recent violence which had impacted Palestinian and Israeli civilians, and was working intensively to achieve an end to the hostilities. The resolution today would not help achieve that goal. It was destructive, not constructive. The United States was deeply troubled by the resolution and would vote against it. Once again the Council had failed to address the situation in Israel and Palestinian territories with any semblance of balance.The United States called for a vote and urged States not to vote for the resolution.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 11:57:18 +0000
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