UN Blames Israel First

On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Council rushed to condemn Israel's response to the Gaza-bound flotilla and call for a fact-finding mission. But why bother with facts when the accused has already been proclaimed guilty?

On 2 June, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution on the ‘Flotilla Incident’ in which it “condemned in the strongest possible terms the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces…decided to despatch an independent international fact finding mission…and called on Israel to immediately lift the siege on occupied Gaza and other occupied territories.”

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 32 in favor, 3 against and 9 abstentions. Voting ‘no’ were the United States, Netherlands and Italy.

During the debate prior to adopting the resolution, speakers also condemned the disproportional use of force by Israel against humanitarian activities and depicted it as an unacceptable act of piracy and sabotage to the peace process in the Middle East.

There are several things to note from this resolution (amongst many):

1. The UNHRC first condemned Israel and then called for an independent international fact-finding mission. Why even go through the rigmarole of a fact finding mission when the accused is already proclaimed guilty?

2. The resolution was introduced by Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab Group. Speakers during the debate in favor of the resolution included, amongst others: Syria, Libya, the League of Arab States and Afghanistan. Each is hardly a beacon for democracy, tolerance and human rights.

3. Not once does the resolution mention Hamas.

4. Not once does the resolution mention the role of extremist Islamic organisations such as the IHH (and their support by Turkey).

5. Not once does the resolution mention that the so called ‘peace activists’ came on board armed with machetes, knives, metal bars and other weapons, which they used to full force in the brutal lynching of the Israeli forces.

6. To rub salt into the wounds, the UNHRC did not even have the courtesy to correctly spell Israeli, which it spelled 'Isareli'.

This is no Human Rights Council. This is an inhumane Rights Council.

Vote on the UNHRC resolution to condemn Israel's response to the Gaza-bound flotilla