Rights abuses by Israel 'being ignored'

A UN human rights expert today criticised the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations for effectively punishing the Palestinian people by ignoring countless Israeli violations of human rights, international law and other standards.

John Dugard, a South African lawyer responsible for investigating alleged human rights abuses by Israel in Palestinian areas, said the United States and other international powers who make up the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators have done nothing to rein in Israel.

“Israel’s conduct is morally indefensible,” Dugard told an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council.

“I am concerned with the law, and here it is clear that Israel is in violation of the most fundamental norms of humanitarian law and human rights law.”

Dugard said he had “every sympathy” with Israeli Cpl Gilad Shalit, whose capture by Gaza militants sparked the latest Israeli military reprisals, but he said Israel’s response has only increased its violations of the Geneva Convention on the treatment of occupied people.