Ian Williams | 05.07.06
Author of the book “The U.N. For Beginners,” Williams said today: “The manner in which the Security Council is dealing with Israel and North Korea is quite an interesting exercise in hypocrisy.” “Israel has just announced it’s moving into civilian areas [in Gaza], and was already in egregious violation of international law and a multitude of UN Security Council resolutions. It has ripped up the ‘Road Map’ and, despite occasional hot air from ambassadors, the U.S. government has made sure nothing is done about it.
“Meanwhile, whatever you may think of the provocative…actions of the North Korean government, it is not violating any international statute — there is no treaty governing missile launches — but there is a rush to put the issue on the Council agenda.”
UN: Gaza siege tramples human rights
Olmert orders military to target hamas members in Gaza and west bank
05.07.06 Daily Star
UN human-rights envoy John Dugard accused Israel of violating the “most fundamental norms” of international human-rights law with its siege of Gaza.
Israel’s military action was a “disproportionate use of force against civilians,” said Dugard, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“It is clear Israel is in violation of the most fundamental norms of humanitarian law and human rights law,” Dugard said in an address to a special session of the UN Human Rights Council.
He accused the so-called “Quartet” of Mideast mediators of doing nothing to rein in Israel.
The EU also warned that the army’s operations had delayed efforts to get much-needed funding to the Palestinian people.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said Israel’s plans to enlarge an interdiction zone in northern Gaza would only make matters worse. “Israel is using the recent developments as a pretext to impose faits accomplis. A security zone will not solve the problem, but on the contrary, will help further the escalation.”
In Cairo, Egypt’s mediation efforts ground to a halt because Hamas’ Syria-based political chief Khaled Meshaal was refusing to press for the unconditional release of Corporal Gilad Shalit and because of growing mistrust between Egypt and Hamas, Egyptian and Palestinian officials said. As a result, Meshaal was turning his attention to mediation by Turkey, which has stepped up diplomacy in an effort to end the standoff, the Palestinian officials said.
