In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council on Monday again debated the infamous Item 7 on its agenda, focusing on Israel's alleged human rights violations in the Palestinian territories.
The Council's outgoing Special Rapporteur, Makarim Wibisono, voiced scathing criticism of Israel. Wibisono is to step down over what he said was a lack of access to areas he is meant to monitor.
In his final report to the UN Human Rights Council, the Indonesian diplomat alleged a "lack of cooperation" on Israel's side which "regrettably seems to signal the continuation of a situation under which Palestinians suffer daily human rights violations under the Israeli occupation." Wibisono, while stressing that "any wanton act of individual violence, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis, is unacceptable and must be investigated and prosecuted," said in his report that the violence was happening "in a pre-existing context... against a backdrop of illegal settlements in the West Bank... (and) the blockade of Gaza."
The EU representative on the council, Peter Soerensen of Denmark, said he regretted that Israel had not allowed Wibisono to access the Palestinian territories. But he also noted that his mandate was "limited to investigate Israel's violations", and insisted that all rights abuses, regardless of who committed them, "should be subject to scrutiny."
Meanwhile, the appointment of Wibisono's successor is already triggering controversy, with two shortlisted law professors, Penny Green from the UK and Michale Lynk of Canada, both accused of being anti-Israeli activists.
Israel supporters rally in Geneva
In his presentation, Wibisono stressed the need for a successor to continue his work, voicing alarm at the recent escalation of violence committed by both Palestinians and Israelis.
Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Eviatar Manor, said that in the course of the last three weeks, thousands had demonstrated outside the UN headquarters in Geneva, demanding the world body's attention.
"But we are sorry to tell them that they are wasting their time. The Human Rights Council is only obsessed with the fate of the Palestinians, and prefers to close its eyes to other critical Human Rights violations. It consistently disregards the human rights of Israelis. In fact, it does not care for them at all," said Manor. "As long as the HRC does not undergo a behavioral therapy to treat its obsession with Israel, we will not cooperate with these biased mechanisms," he added.
On Monday, hundreds of supporters of Israel rallied outside the UN compound in Geneva, urging the Human Rights Council to shed its anti-Israel bias. Among them was Yair Lapid, Israel's former finance minister and leader of the opposition Yesh Atid party.
