Palestinian Violations of International Laws to be Investigated

United Nations special investigator on Israeli behavior, Richard Falk, wants to broaden it's mandate to report on Palestinian violations of International law. Richard Falk last year made comments that "genocidal tendencies" in Israeli policies could lead to a "Palestinian Holocaust".

The expanded mandate will not include violations of human rights inside the Gaza strip or the West bank. Falk is only doing this to protect the Human Rights Council from criticism of bias. So, even though this is a step in the right direction, I don't expect much from it. Reuters

In his first address to the body, Falk said he was asking it "to consider expanding (his) mandate to also encompass inquiry into Palestinian violations of international humanitarian law" -- a change that Israel has sought.

Israeli leaders, and some critics of their policies, argue that Palestinian attacks on civilian targets in Israel are in breach of global pacts and should be condemned.

But Falk made clear that his aim was to "insulate" the Council -- where decisions largely rest in the hands of a majority of Islamic and African states normally supported by China, Cuba and Russia -- "from those who contend that its work is tainted by partisan politics."

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He also said he did not want to investigate human rights violations by Palestinians inside the territories.

The two-year-old Council, which replaced a discredited predecessor, has held several sessions to condemn Israeli policy in the territories but has generally shielded Islamic and African countries from criticism.

It has also kept away from any criticism of China and Russia and abolished the post of special investigator for Cuba and Belarus, a Moscow ally described in the West as the last dictatorship in Europe.

U.S. WALKOUT

The United States announced earlier this month that it was suspending participation in the Council, where it was an observer. European and some Latin American countries have also voiced concern at the direction the body is taking.

Falk, a Jew who is fiercely critical of what he describes as "pro-Israel" influence on U.S. foreign policies, told the Council his proposal was aimed at making his work "as effective as possible".