The Permanent Mission of Israel in Geneva expresses its shock, concern
and deep regret following a press release issued yesterday, November 16, by the
UN Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian
territories and on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions.
Israel expresses its shock at the Rapporteurs' intentional disregard of
reality. The existing context is not "the policies and practices under the
longstanding Israeli occupation" but rather the incessant incitement in
Palestinian media and social network sites, as well as the lack of official
denunciation of terrorist attacks by the Palestinian political leadership,
including President Abbas, which encourage Palestinian terror perpetrators to
murder Israeli citizens.
Israel expresses its concern at the complete lack of professionalism
shown by the two Rapporteurs. They have lost their professional bearings and
moral compass, and have become a tool in promoting Palestinian propaganda. They
have mixed up victims of terror with perpetrators of dastardly terrorist
attacks, and safeguard of the lives of civilians with the intent to cut them
short.
Israel expresses its regret at the lack of compassion and sympathy
demonstrated by the Rapporteurs for the Israeli victims of Palestinian
terrorism such as Rabbi Ya'acov Litman and his son Netanel, murdered in a
drive-by shooting last Friday.
Israel has on many occasions denounced the UN system for its complete
disregard for the human rights of Israelis. The right to life is a basic human
right, and Israelis and Jews have it, too.
Press releases of this nature issued by the UN, its bodies and Experts
demonstrate a downward spiral towards politicization, a lack of expertise as
well as a lack of integrity.
One cannot avoid pointing out that both Rapporteurs show greater concern
for the blood of the perpetrators than for that of their victims.
Press releases of this kind only serve to encourage terror perpetrators
and provide them with a sense of immunity; they contribute to damage UN
credibility and relevance to Israelis, and they cast a long shadow on UN
ability to contribute to restore peace and security in our region.
Israel's security forces will continue to safeguard
Israelis, combat terrorism and restore calm with full respect of the law, whether
domestic, international or humanitarian.