Adri Nieuwhof (Electronic Intifada)
Despite pressure from the US, Israel has boycotted the review of its
human rights situation which was scheduled for today. All UN member
states are required to undergo such Universal Periodic Reviews
(UPR) by the Human Rights Council. It is the first time that a state
has refused to cooperate in this mandatory review process without giving
a reason. Until now, all countries have attended, including Syria and
North Korea.
However, the council has not let Israel off the hook. It unanimously
agreed — supported by the US — to defer the review until its next
session in October and November at the latest.
Israel’s boycott follows the decision to cut its working relations
with the UN Human Rights Council in March last year in response to the
council’s decision to investigate Israel’s settlements in the occupied
West Bank.
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
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Israel must withdraw all settlers from the West Bank or potentially face a case at the international criminal court (ICC) for serious violations of international law, says a report by a United Nations agency that was immediately dismissed in Jerusalem as "counterproductive and unfortunate"
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