UAE calls for pressure on Israel to respect Palestinians' basic rights

Geneva - March 24, 2010 (WAM)- UAE Permanent Representative to the UN European Headquarter Obaid Salem Al Zaabi has delivered a speech before a session of the Human Rights Council, dedicated to debate human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.
Al Zaabi said that five months after the Human Rights Council's passing of recommendations of the international independent fact finding mission to investigate Israeli war on Gaza, paying no heed to appeals by the international community to lift that blockade, to open crossings and to allow entry of fuel, medicine and basic requirements.
"The international community should put pressure on Israel to respect the basic rights of the Palestinians, and stop the illegitimate settlements," he added.
Al Zaabi also expressed UAE's rejection of all actions taken unilaterally by Israel to change the demographic and geographic structure of the occupied Palestinian territories and construction of settlements, especially in East Jerusalem in its attempts to impose faits accompli, as well as plans to include the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem on the list of Israeli archaeological sites.
"The international community should put pressure on Israel to respect its legal responsibilities under the international law and the international human rights and humanitarian laws, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, for the protection of civilian persons in time of war, applicable on the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.