UN: Israel must do more to halt abuse of Palestinian rights

Israel must do more to halt a string of serious violations of Palestinian human rights documented by a 2009 fact-finding mission, according to a U.N. report published Monday. There is a "need to more earnestly pursue accountability for the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that were documented by the fact-finding mission," Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. Speaking on behalf of U.N. rights chief Navi Pillay, she presented a report on progress made in implementing recommendations in the U.N. Goldstone report, which detailed violations of international rights and humanitarian laws in connection with the 2008/09 Gaza conflict. "It has been nearly three years since this council endorsed the fact-finding mission's recommendations. Yet, not one person has been indicted for any of the incidents documented," she said. "Respecting human rights and international humanitarian law obligations means that perpetrators of violations are brought to justice." Penalties must also correspond to the crimes, she said, decrying the case of an Israeli solider sentenced last month to just 45 days in prison for killing two unarmed Palestinian women waving a white flag during the Gaza conflict. Israel's Operation Cast Lead offensive in Gaza claimed the lives of some 1,400 Palestinians -- more than half of them civilians -- and 13 Israelis, including three civilians and 10 soldiers. Monday's report by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon also highlighted border closures and restrictions on Gaza, and obstacles to movement in the West Bank, exacerbating a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories. It also spoke out against the detention of 4,500 Palestinians in Israeli jails, noting that 250 were also being held in so-called administrative detention, without trial. The report also criticized Palestinian armed groups for firing rockets at Israel, and Palestinian authorities for among other things arbitrary arrests. Israel's representative was absent from the council in what was likely to have been a deliberate show of disapproval. Israel severed contacts with the council in March after the 47-member body announced a separate probe into how Israeli settlements may be infringing on the rights of Palestinians, accusing it of "singling out" Israel. A Palestinian representative hailed the latest report and charged that Israel was "continuing to perpetrate its violations and to perpetrate its systematic occupation". "This country is flouting all recommendations... from the United Nations," he said. "International law... must apply in the occupied Palestinian territories." His comments came amid growing frustration over the deadlocked peace process, with talks on hold for two years as Palestinians refuse to negotiate while Israel continues with settlement building in the occupied territories. While pointing to some "positive steps," Monday's report called on Israel to take additional measures to allow freedom of movement for Palestinians. Kang also stressed the need to bring to justice Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians or their property, highlighting the case of a West Bank family who had to seek medical treatment 35 times over two years due to repeated attacks, while 850 of their olive trees had been damaged or stolen. "Despite several complaints filed with the Israeli police, no action has been taken to prosecute offenders. On the contrary, Israeli police have arrested the father and sons on numerous occasions following attacks by settlers," she said. Leonidas Pantelides of Cyprus, speaking on behalf of the European Union, stressed the bloc's "deep concern" about the "marked acceleration of settlement construction" and the continued construction of Israel's controversial West Bank barrier. These activities, he said, "constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible".