RAMALLAH, June 19, 2018 (WAFA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Malki said remarks by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson regarding the agenda item related to human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory at the Human Rights Council in which he said that the Council was biased against Israel were regrettable.
“Johnson‘s remarks at the 38th session of the Human Rights Council on 18 June 2018 will only embolden Israel, the occupying Power, to commit more egregious violations against the human rights of the Palestinian people.”
They will also encourage Israel to persist in its intransigence and refusal, as a duty bearer, to respect basic human rights enshrined in core universal treaties it is party to, said Malki.
The human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory remains a standing item on the United Nations Human Right‘s Council agenda because it is a grave situation that has not been remedied, said a statement issued by the ministry.
Throughout fifty one years of belligerent military occupation, Israel, the occupying Power, has systematically shown abject disregard for the human rights of the Palestinian people by methodically defying UN resolutions, as well as failing to implement recommendations by treaty bodies and denying access and assistance to UN missions and special procedures, Malki stated.
Additionally, the special colonial and belligerent nature of the prolonged Israeli occupation and unchecked violations of human rights of the Palestinian people, presents the international community with a unique challenge to the very credibility of the rules-based international system, which was designed to preserve, advance, and champion human rights, added al-Malki.
Malki stressed: “The International community, including the UK, has a legal and moral responsibility under international human rights law, to ensure that international human rights standards are respected and enforced in Palestine and to challenge Israel‘s impunity and ensure accountability. This is especially true given the permanent and historic responsibility of the UK towards the Question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects.”
The minister maintained that preaching about principles of freedom and human rights is not enough. “The UK should show consistency in its professed regard to universal human rights and end the double talk and double standard that has consistently put Israel above accountability and created a culture of impunity that furthers repression and human rights violations,” he said.
“We are convinced of the urgency of renewed, structured and substantial efforts towards peace and are committed to that path. However, such efforts do not contradict but in fact compliment the required steps to confront violations of human rights and seek to halt illegal practices on the ground through the appropriate and available mechanisms, including through the related international bodies.”
Malki stressed that this is a responsibility of all states that must take action to send a clear message that engagement in a political process does not, under any pretext, provide for an excuse to violate international human rights and humanitarian law and disregard obligations in this regard.
T.R.
