U.N. Questions Israel On Palestinians' Rights
Source: REUTERS
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA Mon Oct 20, 2014 3:05pm EDT
(Reuters) - U.N. experts questioned Israeli officials on Monday over alleged rights abuses ranging from the demolition of Palestinian houses and the expansion of Jewish settlements to limited Palestinian access to water and their farmland.
Israel's delegation defended its record before the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which examined respect for civil and political rights in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Each U.N. member state is reviewed every four years.
However, the government only provided written information about Israel as it says its obligations to report to the committee do not extend to Palestinian territories - something the U.N. panel and International Court of Justice disagree with.
Committee chairman Nigel Rodley voiced frustration at Israel's interpretation of the pact in the report that provided the starting point for the committee's questioning but failed to address some of the Palestinians' main grievances, such as the building of homes on territory they want for a future state.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/20/us-israel-palestinians-un-rights-idUSKCN0I91W820141020