RAMALLAH, January 5, 2016 (WAFA) – An
official from the Palestine Liberation Organization said Israel is exerting
efforts sabotage the missions of UN human rights organizations, especially the
UN Human Rights Council in the occupied Palestinian Territories, said a PLO
official.
PLO Executive Committee member Hanan
Ashrawi said the resignation
of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the oPT due to
Israel’s failure to grant him access to the areas he is tasked with exhibits
Israel’s arrogance as an occupying power, rejection and defiance of
international law institutions and mechanisms.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Makarim Wibisono
Monday submitted his resignation to the President of the Human Rights Council,
effective as of 31 March 2016 after Israel denied him access to the oPT.
Speaking about his resignation, Wibisono stated, “Unfortunately,
my efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of violations under
the Israeli occupation have been frustrated every step of the way.”
“I took up this mandate with the understanding
that Israel would grant me access, as an impartial and objective observer,” he
added, stressing that upon assuming his post in June 2014, he was assured that
he would have access to the oPT.
Repeated requests for access, both written and
oral, have been unsuccessful. “With no reply from Israel to my latest request,
in October 2015, to have access by the end of 2015, it is with deep regret that
I accept the premise upon which I took up the mandate, which is to have direct
access to the victims in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, will not be
fulfilled,” he said.
He will present his last report to the Human
Rights Council in March 2016.
“Israel is doing its utmost to sabotage the
missions of UN human rights organizations, including the UN Human Rights
Council,” stated Ashrawi.
“Seeking to cover up its human rights
violations and proceed with its crimes, Israel has been refusing to cooperate
with and impeding the overall human rights work conducted by these
organizations,” added Ashrawi.
“What is going on is that a single state
[Israel] is defying and attempting to impose its will on the international
community and seeking to evade any accountability and punishment,” added
Ashrawi.
She called on the world (international
community) to “stop this farce and exercise political and humanitarian will
required to hold Israel accountable to rule of international law” and put an
end to its impunity.
Wibisono, an Indonesian diplomat, said
throughout his tenure, the Palestinian government cooperated fully with his
mandate, and he voiced deep concern at the lack of effective protection of
Palestinian victims of continuing human rights violations and violations of
international humanitarian law.
“I reluctantly wish to pass the baton to a
successor, selected by the Human Rights Council,” he added. “It is my sincere
hope that whoever succeeds me will manage to resolve the current impasse, and
so reassure the Palestinian people that after nearly half a century of
occupation the world has not forgotten their plight and that universal human
rights are indeed universal.”
He affirmed it was important for Israel's own
human rights credibility to cooperate fully with the mandate, including by allowing
unfettered access to the occupied Palestinian Territories.
In his most recent report, Wibisono voiced
concern at Israeli raids against the Hebron-based Youth Against Settlements in
the occupied West Bank, at the high level of clashes in the city, where
Palestinians live in close proximity to a large settler population, and at the
blockade around the Gaza strip, which imposes severe restrictions on
Palestinian movement, imports and exports.
“The bottom line remains that, if Gaza is to
recover from the damage wrought by multiple rounds of hostility and a shattered
economy, the blockade must be lifted. The people deserve help and realization
of their human rights, not collective punishment,” he said in June.
Special Rapporteurs are independent experts
appointed by and reporting back to the Council. Wibisono served as Indonesia's
Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva (2004-2007) and in New York
(1997-2000), as well as on a number of UN bodies, including as Chairperson of
the 61st United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2005 and President of the
UN Economic and Social Council in 2000.
K.F/M.H
