PRESS RELEASE : D^r. Ashrawi on Israel’s refusal to attend UN Human Rights Council meeting

PLO Executive Committee
Department of Culture and Information

January 30, 2013

D^r. Ashrawi on Israel’s refusal to attend UN Human Rights Council meeting

Today, PLO Executive Committee member, D^r. Hanan Ashrawi called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for refusing to attend its Universal Periodic Review conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), which was scheduled to take place yesterday, January 29 :

“Israel’s refusal to attend the HRC review is reprehensible and constitutes an egregious violation of international and humanitarian law, as well as a deliberate insult to this international body.”

“In postponing the review until October, the HRC is setting a dangerous precedent by allowing Israel to flout the will of the international community and get away with its illegal policies and measures that violate the basic human rights of the Palestinian people.”

“We call on the HRC to shoulder its responsibility to promote and protect the ‘universal ideals of human dignity’ and hold Israel accountable for its blatant disregard for international law. Israel is not above the law and it should not be rewarded for repeatedly slighting members of the international community.”