News|United NationsIsrael ‘asphyxiating’ Palestinians for ‘apartheid system’ in West Bank: UNVolker Turk’s description of the occupied West Bank’s situation as ‘apartheid’ marks first time a United Nations human rights chief has used term.
The United Nations human rights office has issued a report urging Israel to dismantle all settlements in the occupied West Bank. This request highlights the office's concerns regarding systemic discrimination and restricted access faced by Palestinians.
The United Nations human rights office has issued a report urging Israel to dismantle all settlements in the occupied West Bank. This request highlights the office's concerns regarding systemic discrimination and restricted access faced by Palestinians.
The report, released on Wednesday, criticizes Israel's restrictions on Palestinian movement through checkpoints and limited access to essential resources. It underscores the differential treatment of Israeli settlers and Palestinians under distinct legal systems, resulting in unequal access to land and resources.
UN rights chief Volker Turk described the situation as a severe form of discrimination, akin to apartheid, marking a notable use of the term by a UN rights official. The report also highlights the impact of Israeli policies on daily Palestinian life, including water access and agricultural activities.
Turk emphasized that Israeli laws and policies control various aspects of Palestinian life, leading to land confiscation and a lack of access to resources. The report further notes that Palestinian rights are often compromised in military courts, where due process and fair trial rights are reportedly violated.
The United Nations human rights office has issued a report urging Israel to dismantle all settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has rejected the apartheid label, attributing its policies to security concerns rather than racial discrimination. However, the UN report cites increasing settler violence, often occurring with the support of Israeli security forces, as exacerbating the situation.
Currently, over 500,000 Israelis reside in West Bank settlements, alongside approximately three million Palestinians. Recent events have seen heightened violence, with significant casualties and arrests reported in the region.
The Israeli government continues to approve new settlement expansions, with 19 new outposts recently authorized. This expansion is seen as part of efforts to prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
