UNITED NATIONS Press Release xxxxxxxxxx HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ENDORSES xxxxxxxxxx RECOMMENDATIONS IN REPORT OF FACT-FINDING MISSION LED BY JUSTICE GOLDSTONE AND CALLS FOR THEIR IMPLEMENTATION Human Rights Council MORNING 16 October 2009 Demands that Israel Immediately Cease All Excavation Work Around Al Aqsa Mosque and that it Allow Palestinian Citizens Access to Their Properties and Religious Sites The twelfth Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and East Jerusalem concluded this morning after adopting a resolution in which it endorsed the recommendations contained in the report of the independent international Fact-Finding Mission led by Justice Goldstone and called on all concerned parties to ensure their implementation. In the resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 25 in favour, six against, and 11 abstentions, the Council strongly condemned all policies and measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, including those limiting access of Palestinians to their properties and holy sites particularly in Occupied East Jerusalem, on the basis of national origin, religion, sex, age or any other discriminatory ground. It condemned further the recent Israeli violations of human rights in Occupied East Jerusalem, particularly the confiscation of lands and properties, the demolishing of houses and private properties, the construction and expansion of settlements, the continuous construction of the separation Wall, changing the demographic and geographic character of East Jerusalem, the restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Palestinian citizens of East Jerusalem, as well as the continuous digging and excavation works in and around Al-Aqsa mosque and its vicinity. The Council demanded that Israel respect the religious and cultural rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and allow Palestinian citizens and worshippers unhindered access to their properties and religious sites therein. It also demanded that Israel immediately cease all digging and excavation works and activities beneath and around Al Aqsa Mosque and its vicinity, and refrain from any acts or operations that may endanger the structure or foundations or change the nature of holy sites both Christian and Islamic in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. At the beginning of the meeting, the Council heard speakers in the general debate who noted that the Council was holding a Special Session while the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories was worsening. The excavations carried out in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque were aimed at changing the geography of the site and Israel had to be stopped. Other speakers were concerned at what they saw as a continued and unbalanced attention given by the Council to Middle East issues. The earlier decision of the Council in March (to postpone consideration of the Goldstone report till March 2010) reflected the complexity and seriousness of the question. It was therefore felt that a Special Session had not been warranted at this time. Speaking in the general debate were Turkey, the League of Arab States, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Costa Rica, the African Union, Maldives, Panama, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Iceland, Morocco, Canada, Australia, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Switzerland. Also taking the floor were the following non-governmental organizations: Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'Amitié entre les peoples; International Federation of Human Rights Leagues; Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man; Human Rights Watch; Action Canada for Population and Development; Badil Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights; International Commission of Jurists; UN Watch; ADALAH – Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel; B'nai B'rith International; Union of Arab Jurists; North South XXI; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; World Union for Progressive Judaism; international Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; Palestinian Centre for Human Rights; Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies; and the International Committee For The Respect and Application Of The African Charter On Human Rights And People's Rights. The Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights also took the floor. Israel and Palestine spoke on the resolution in their capacity as concerned countries. Speaking in an explanation of the vote before the vote were the delegations of the United States, Chile, Slovenia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Norway and Mexico. Speaking in an explanation of the vote after the vote were the delegations of India, Slovakia, Belgium, the Russian Federation, China, the Netherlands and Italy. Algeria spoke in a general comment after the vote The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, led by Justice Richard Goldstone, was tasked by the Council "to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that might have been committed at any time in the context of the military operations that were conducted in Gaza during the period from 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009, whether before, during or after". The report of the Mission, presented to the Council's twelfth session, concluded that, while the Israeli Government sought to portray its operations as a response to rocket attacks in the exercise of its right to self defence, the Israeli plan had been directed, at least in part, at the people of Gaza as a whole. The report also found that Palestinian armed groups had succeeded in causing terror within Israel's civilian population through the launch of thousands of rockets and mortars into Israel since April 2001. It recommended that the Security Council require the Government of Israel to take all appropriate steps, within a period of three months, to launch appropriate investigations that were independent and in conformity with international standards; and with regard to the relevant Palestinian authorities, that it require the 2 independent committee of experts to monitor and report on any domestic legal or other proceedings undertaken by the relevant authorities in the Gaza Strip. The Human Rights Council will hold its thirteenth regular session from 1 to 29 March 2010. General Debate ASLIGUL UGDUL (Turkey) noted that the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had been thoroughly discussed two weeks ago during the September session of the Council. The decision taken then by Palestine to defer the resolution on the Goldstone report, in order to give more time for its consideration and to facilitate global efforts for the Middle East peace process, had been welcomed by the Council. Nevertheless, no positive steps had been taken by other parties following that decision and recent developments had even further deteriorated the human rights situation of Palestinians. Turkey therefore totally understood the need for holding this Special Session. It was particularly concerned with the recent incidents in and around Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and attached utmost priority and special importance to the protection of the sacred nature of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and the cultural and religious fabric of Jerusalem. The Goldstone Fact-Finding Mission addressed all alleged violations and should be seriously considered by the Council, which should combat impunity and uphold accountability. It was Turkey's sincere hope that the conclusions of the report could create an opportunity to put an end to the dire conditions in Gaza. SAAD ALFARARGI (League of Arab States) said that the Council was holding a Special Session while the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories was worsening. The Al Aqsa Mosque's esplanade had been invaded by settlers, while Israel, the occupying power continued to carry out excavations, thereby violating instruments of international human rights. The excavations carried out in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque were aimed at changing the geography of the site. Israel had to be stopped. The Council should adopt the Fact-Finding Mission's report and refer it to the Security Council. Israeli war criminals should be put to trial. HAMID BAEIDI NEJAD (Iran) welcomed and fully supported the convening of this Special Session on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Iran strongly believed that the relevant recommendations in the report of the Fact- Finding Mission on Gaza should be taken seriously and resolutely followed up by the international community through all relevant mechanisms with a view to holding accountable the perpetrators of such heinous crimes and to put an end to the persistent situation of absolute impunity and defiance of the law. Iran attached high importance to the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which covered some of the realities on the ground in occupied Palestine, particularly during the brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip. In that context, the international community should exert all pressure on the occupiers to lift the inhumane and severe siege imposed on 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Iran strongly condemned recently intensified illegal policies and measures taken by the Israeli regime in occupied Palestine, including ongoing settlement activities, continued racist construction of the apartheid wall in occupied Palestine and in particular in and 3 around the holy city, as well as continued digging and excavation work in and around Al Aqsa Mosque. KHALIL BITAR (Syria) said that only a few days had gone by since the discussions in the Council on the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza. The occupying power had provoked the Palestinians further by attacking the Al Aqsa Mosque. Syria demanded a stop of the excavations in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque. Syria condemned all the measures taken by Israel in Jerusalem to change the demographics and the geography of the city. These were flagrant violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, reflecting the continuation of the policy of occupation since 1967. The conscience of the international community was being tested. The Council had to put an end to the culture of impunity of Israeli leaders.