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Press Release

Israel Blocks Visiting Mission by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Date:    22 April 2002

Ref:      2002/60

PCHR has sent a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson expressing the Centre’s deep disappointment at Mrs. Robinson’s silence in light of Israel’s decision to block an urgent visiting mission to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) that she was to lead.

On 5 April, the UN Commission on Human Rights passed a resolution (2002/1) by a vote of 44-2 (7 abstentions) requesting that Mrs. Robinson immediately lead a mission to visit the OPT and report back to the Commission during its current session, which closes on 26 April.  The mission was to be composed of Mrs. Robinson, former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, and Cyril Ramaphosa, former Secretary General of the African National Congress of South Africa.  On 16 April, the Commission adopted a decision urging Israel’s immediate cooperation with the visiting mission and asking the High Commissioner to compile a report based on information provided by concerned organisations.  In this regard, and upon the request of the High Commissioner’s office, PCHR has provided it with information on the current human rights situation.

On 19 April, a press release from the High Commissioner’s office announced that the visiting mission would not take place after Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres made it clear that “the visit would not be facilitated by the Israeli authorities.”

PCHR condemns Israel’s obstruction of the visiting mission and its contempt for resolution 2002/1.  Furthermore, PCHR is deeply disappointed that the visiting mission did not attempt to visit the OPT without permission – as Mrs. Robinson did in November 2000 – or denounce Israel’s refusal to cooperate with the visiting mission.  PCHR is concerned that Mrs. Robinson’s silence on Israeli intransigence could be construed as effectively handing the Israeli government a veto over the visiting mission.

PCHR is deeply dismayed that the adoption of resolution 2002/1 on 5 April did not deter Israeli occupying forces from carrying out war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law in the OPT.  Rather, such violations accelerated after that date, as most starkly embodied in the annihilation of the Jenin refugee camp.

PCHR reiterates that the human rights catastrophe and humanitarian crisis in the OPT will continue to deteriorate until the international community takes concerted action to ensure Israel’s respect for the Fourth Geneva Convention and to end its 35-year belligerent military occupation of the West Bank (including east Jerusalem) and Gaza strip through a complete withdrawal from the OPT.