Arafat, Annan: "Our next kangaroo UN REPORT will explain why
we are upset that the Israelis can't keep their murdered innocents' body pieces off of the streets
as fast as we make them".
Posted on 12/05/2001 12:12:14 PM PST by RCW2001
An international conference has demanded that Israel respect the rights of Palestinians living in the occupied territories.
At a one-day meeting of countries signatory to the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of war, 114 countries adopted a three-page declaration re-affirming that the terms of the conventions applied to the Palestinian territories.
The declaration warned that Israel was making grave breaches of the humanitarian terms of the 1949 conventions.
Israel disputes their validity, maintaining that the West Bank and Gaza are "disputed territory" not "occupied territory", and therefore the conventions do not apply.
The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Mary Robinson, earlier criticised both Israel and the Palestinians for attacks on civilians.
Israel had asked the Swiss Government to cancel the meeting following the deadly suicide attacks in Israel over the weekend.
Palestinians 'impoverished'
"The failure of successive Israeli governments to comply with the Geneva Conventions has left the population of the Palestinian territories exposed to a wide range of violations", Mrs Robinson said.
She said the prolonged siege and closure of the territories had led to increased poverty in the West Bank and Gaza and had left Palestinian workers deprived of work, education and health care.
The humanitarian codes of the fourth Geneva Convention, a cornerstone of international law which Israel ratified in 1951, aim to provide protection and access to food and medical care for all civilians living in war zones or for those living under military occupation.
The UN High Commissioner also stressed that all UN bodies monitoring international treaties are adamant that the convention does cover the Palestinian areas.
She re-iterated her call for an international monitoring presence in the West Bank and Gaza - a demand that has been repeatedly rejected by Israel.
'Futile exercise'
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Yakov Levy, on Tuesday described the conference as "meaningless".
He said it was "a futile political exercise" and "an abuse of a humanitarian instrument".
The United States called the meeting "counterproductive".
Switzerland - the depository of the Geneva Conventions - organised the conference after a request last year by the United Nations General Assembly, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference members.
Swiss officials said last week they had negotiated a balanced final declaration for the conference, which would stress that respect for the fourth Convention and humanitarian law was essential for a just and lasting peace.
Arafat, Annan: "Our next kangaroo UN REPORT will explain why
we are upset that the Israelis can't keep their murdered innocents' body pieces off of the streets
as fast as we make them".
"Meaningless" said Israel.
"Typically slanderous" said I.
And once again the US and Israel stand together - united against the Turd World loons and crackpots.
How much money is Bin Laden reputed to have? Why isn't he helping his poor Palestinian brothers?
Come visit us at Freepathon Holidays are Here Again: Let's Really Light Our Tree This Year - Thread 6
and be a part of something that is larger than all of us.
Alone, we are a voice crying in the wilderness. Together we are a force for positive action!
Don't be left out!
Be one who can someday say..................... "I was there when..................."
Thank you to everyone who has already come by and become a part!
I'm so proud of President Bush, aren't you? Letting things take their natural course means the US doesn't have to play the heavy with Israel and disallows Sharon's reactive, 3 times daily, tirades.
Furthermore, this territory is not "occupied" it is "disputed", as is implied in UN resolution 224, so the Geneva convention wouldn't apply anyway.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.