By Jay Jackson, Mexico Star
10 Sep 2019, 22:24 GMT+10
GENEVA, Switzerland - The 42nd session of the Human Rights Council opened in Geneva on Monday and a range of issues and crises were discussed.
Whilst many of the dramas engulfing many countries around the world have received prominent media coverage, one issue that hasn't was referred to in the opening global update delivered by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, where she spoke of discrimination against Palestinians by the actions of the Israeli government in relation to settlements, and the settlers themselves.
The issue was not given prominence among the many issues canvassed but stood out as it is not one usually picked up by, or highlighted by the international media.
"In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the continued expansion of settlements across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law, and has severe impact on the human rights of Palestinians. I am particularly concerned by very high levels of settler violence, and Israel's failure to adequately protect Palestinians from such attacks, or hold the perpetrators to account," Bachelet said.
"Demolitions of homes have recently increased, under the Israeli zoning and planning framework which discriminates heavily against Palestinians. So far this year, at least 481 people have been displaced as a result of demolitions, already exceeding the 472 displaced in all of 2018. Settler violence, demolitions and forced evictions all contribute to an environment which coerces Palestinians to leave their homes. In this context, I also note with concern a number of recent calls by Israeli officials for annexation of all or part of the West Bank."
"I continued to be alarmed by reports of unlawful killings and injuries of Palestinians by Israeli security forces across the entire occupied territory, accompanied by a lack of full accountability for instances of possible excessive use of force," the high commissioner said in her address.
"Moreover, my Office remains concerned that the targeting of human rights defenders, including with travel bans, delegitimising statements and reports, interrogation, detention and ill-treatment, by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto authorities in Gaza has increased, resulting in further shrinking of civil society space."
(Photo credit: Abed al-Hashlamoun | EPA).
Get a daily dose of Mexico Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.
More InformationLONDON - U.S. President Donald Trump accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of being "two-faced" after Trudeau and other NATO ...
PYONGYANG, North Korea - The dialogue on denuclearisation promoted by the United States is nothing but a "foolish trick" used ...
With a collective gasp and puzzled looks, the world was recently introduced to Tesla's newest vehicle. The so-called Cybertruck is ...
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States may take action on trade with countries that are ...
It's the National Day of Remembrance for the 14 women who were killed at the L'ecole Polytechnique in Montreal for ...
Washington [US], Dec 06 (ANI): A US state department official on Thursday said that 1,000 or more protesters were killed ...
PORTLAND, Oregon - Like many Americans, Aaron Cole and his wife had been able to save up a nest egg ...
MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia - Three people have been charged in relation to Australia's largest ever onshore methamphetamine seizure, worth more ...
LONDON - U.S. President Donald Trump accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of being "two-faced" after Trudeau and other NATO ...
Three constitutional experts on Wednesday bolstered Democrats' efforts to impeach Donald Trump by saying the president's actions seeking foreign interference ...
Exceptional global heat driven by greenhouse gas emissions mean this decade will most likely go down as the warmest on ...
By "the interview" I mean the meeting in 2016 between Cardinal Pell and the Victorian Police. By "the story" I ...