Palestinian rights groups urge end to Israeli 'discrimination'
GENEVA: The UN Human Rights Council must ensure Israel ends "institutionalised
racism and discrimination" against Palestinians when it examines the
Jewish state's rights record, Palestinian groups urged Wednesday.
Israel will be examined on its human rights record by the Council on
Thursday under the "Universal Periodic Review" process which puts every
UN member state under the spotlight.
"Institutionalised racism and discrimination on the grounds of
nationality, ethnicity, race and religion are root causes of the ongoing
forcible internal displacement and dispossession of the Palestinian
people," seven Palestinian rights groups said in a report submitted to
the Council.
"In conjunction with Israel's self-identification as a Jewish and
democratic state, the Palestinian citizens of Israel are afforded no
constitutional protection against racial discrimination. By this Israel
is failing to comply with its obligations under international human
rights law," the report said.
It highlighted the situation in East Jerusalem occupied by Israel
since the Six Day War of 1967 where it claimed that "the State of Israel
segregates and discriminates against Palestinians in the guise of
development planning."
It also criticised the extension of self-styled security zones,
confiscation of agricultural land and the construction of the so-called
"separation wall" between the West Bank and Israel proper. Thursday, AFP |