RAMALLAH, March 31, 2011 (WAFA) - Palestinians Thursday welcomed the four resolutions the United Nations Human Rights Council has recently adopted in favor of the Palestinian people, while at the same time condemning the United States for opposing them.

Ali Abu Diak, deputy chairman of the Fatwa and Legislation, praised the Human Rights Council for adopting these resolutions on March 25.

He also condemned the US stance opposing the four resolutions, saying that “the US demonstrates at every opportunity its support for the Israeli aggression and occupation, while opposing Palestinian right to obtain freedom.”

One resolution condemned Israel’s lack of respect for Palestinian religious and cultural rights. The others emphasized Palestinian right to self-determination, freedom of movement to and from Gaza, and a follow up on Goldstone report regarding Israeli war crimes during its 21-day military assault on Gaza at the end of 2008.

The drafts were prepared by the Palestinian delegation in Geneva and submitted by Iraq on behalf of the Arab Group, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Conference and some Latin American countries.

The resolutions said that the continuous Israeli military attacks and operations in the occupied Palestinian Territory have caused severe violations of international humanitarian law and of the human rights of the Palestinians. They also undermined international efforts towards achieving a just and lasting peace in the region based on the two-state solution.

In addition, the Israeli blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip, including the closure of border crossings, constitutes collective punishment and leads to disastrous humanitarian, economic, social and environmental consequences. Therefore it demanded the occupying power, Israel, to end its occupation of the Palestinian land it had conquered since 1967, and to respect its commitments to the peace process towards the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state.

The first resolution condemned Israel’s disrespect of religious and cultural rights in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including at the Ibrahimi mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron, Bilal mosque (Rachel Tomb) in Bethlehem and the Wall of the Old city of Jerusalem, which are on its list of national heritage sites.

It expressed grave concern at the excavation of ancient tombs and removal of hundreds of human remains from part of the historic Mamilla cemetery in West Jerusalem in order to construct the Museum of Tolerance. It called on the Israeli Government to immediately desist from such illegal acts.

Moreover, it demanded Israel to immediately cease all its ongoing diggings and excavation beneath and around Al-Aqsa Mosque inside the Old City of Jerusalem, as well as other religious sites in the Old City> Furthermore, Israel should refrain from any act that may endanger the structure, foundation or change the nature of the holy sites; both Islamic and Christian, in the occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in and around Jerusalem.

The second resolution addressed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter, relevant UN resolutions, declarations and provisions of international covenants relating to the right to self-determination as an international principle and a right of all people in the world.

It affirmed the inalienable, permanent and unqualified right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including their right to live in freedom, justice and dignity and to establish their sovereign, independent, democratic and viable contiguous state. It also reaffirmed its support for the solution of two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security. It stressed the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The third resolution asserted on implementing the Agreement on Movement and Access from and to Gaza which was signed in November 15, 2005. It called for reopening both Rafah and Karni crossings to ensure foodstuff and essential supplies’ passage, allowing free access of fuel, humanitarian needs, medicine in addition to all necessary materials and equipment needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gaza, as agreed upon at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 2 March 2009.

The resolution expressed grave concern about the continuous Israeli settlement activities, land seizure, house demolitions, property destruction and confiscation and expulsion of Palestinians which violate the international law and Fourth Geneva Convention to protect civilians in time of war.

According to this, Israel must implement the Security Council, General assembly and Human Rights Council’s resolutions and recommendations on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The European Union commented that this came in response to the Security Council’s failure in adopting resolutions that condemn Israeli settlement activities.

The fourth resolution called for a Follow-up on Goldstone’s Report with the need of transmitting it to the UN Security Council to take an appropriate action including refereeing the occupied Palestinian Territory’s situation to the International Criminal Court.

It condemned Israel’s non-cooperation with the members of the committee of independent experts, and its failure to comply with the calls of the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly to conduct independent and credible investigations that conform with international standards into the serious violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law reported by the Fact-Finding Mission, and Israel's failure to ensure accountability and justice.

Y.Y./M.A.