General Assembly
Mr. Amir Weissbrod
Minister Counsellor for Political Affairs
9 November 2009
Mr. Chairman,
Allow me to begin by reaffirming the importance that Israel places on the preservation of human rights. Despite the fact that our region is marred by terrorists who reject and challenge the most fundamental human rights –– Israel remains committed to upholding its sacrosanct ideals towards the preservation of all human rights. Our society remains an open one where our democratic institutions, independent and highly professional judiciary, along with a vibrant public debate ensure that Israel holds itself to the highest international standards and obligations. Israel is proud that its commitment to justice and the sanctity of human rights is on par with the democracies who gather here today.
However, the report of the Special Committee under consideration today is not, nor has it ever been, genuinely dedicated to the advancement of human rights. It is, rather, part of a well-calculated and systematic political campaign designed to vilify Israel and the right of Israel’s citizens to live in peace and security. As such, the Committee aims to deny Israeli citizens the very rights it purports to cherish for others.
This comes as no surprise as the Committee’s work predetermines its conclusions and findings like other UN committees and bodies. This is precisely why Israel refuses, and will continue to refuse, to cooperate with a body who prejudges Israel’s culpability.
Mr. Chairman,
This one sided politicized approach of the committee is well reflected in its current report. For instance, the report fails to mention the simple fact that more then 8600 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip against Israeli towns and villages since 2001. The vast majority of these rockets were fired after Israel completely withdrew its presence from Gaza in 2005. Yet when the report describes Operation Cast Lead, it offers an inverted narrative that accuses Israel of attacking Gaza for no reason whatsoever. Unbelievably, the eight years of Hamas rocket and mortar attacks against Israeli men, women and children –– farmers and city dwellers –– did not deserve this committee’s attention.
In the same manner, this committee totally ignores the current military build-up by the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza that endangers both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. Just a week ago, Hamas test fired a missile with a range of 65 kilometers –– a range that puts most of Israel’s major population centers within reach of terrorist rockets. One further example is the ships from Iran that pass through the Red Sea onward to the Gaza Strip that transport weapons – rather than aid –– to the people of Gaza. Once again, on all of the aforementioned realities, the Committee chooses silence.
Mr. Chairman,
Despite the deliberate omissions of the report that seek to cherry-pick information for politicized reasons, the past year has witnessed many positive developments in the West Bank. These developments have been acknowledged by the Quartet and other relevant bodies who seek to promote peace rather than the predicable narrative of this Committee. For example, the Palestinian economy grew this year by more then 7% as the removal of major check points in the West Bank –– as well as the extension the hours of operation of the Allenby Bridge –– allowed for the greater transfer of people and goods. Israel took many other similar measures –– despite the enormous security risks that such measures entail –– in an effort to do our utmost to find a balance between our legitimate security needs and the desire to foster growth and the foundations for peace.
Mr. Chairman,
Israel is committed to reaching a permanent peace agreement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will permit both peoples to live in peace, security and dignity. We long for a time where we will be able to direct our joint energies, Israeli and Palestinian, to productive endeavors of mutual and universal benefit. Organs such as this Special Committee which issue distorted reports such as that before us do not advance the goal of peace. Quite the contrary, such reports reinforce ingrained biases and deepen the kind of reflexive hostility towards Israel which has fueled this conflict for so long.
Thank you Mr. Chairman
