Palestinian NGOs denounce UN chief for removing report on Israeli apartheid
March 21, 2017 4:39 P.M. (Updated: March 21, 2017 5:37 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=776043
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Palestinians demonstrated outside the United Nations Special Coordinator Office (UNSCO) in Gaza City on Tuesday, in protest of the UN’s decision to withdraw a report prepared by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), which accused Israel of apartheid policies.
Protesters expressed support for ESCWA chief Rima Khalaf, who resigned from her post on Friday, after she said she was pressured by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to remove the report.
A joint statement issued Tuesday by Palestinian Human Rights Organizations (PHROC) addressed to Guterres said the groups were “dismayed” by his decision to withdraw the report, and vowed to “adopt the analysis and conclusions contained therein in an effort to achieve justice for the Palestinian people.”
“It is our belief that the withdrawal of this report will contribute to the commission of further violations by Israel, the occupying power, especially in light of a continued politicization of the application of international law.”
PHROC said the report “professionally” addressed the reality that Palestinians have been subjected to “under the Israeli occupation and its colonial policies that have been based on racial discrimination” since the state of Israel was established in 1948.
“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
Subject: PHROC Letter for Mr António Guterres, Regarding the withdrawal of the UN-ESCWA Report
Date: 21 March 2017
▻http://www.badil.org/en/publication/press-releases/86-2017/4745-pr-en-210317-21.html
