(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency)
Geneva, Dhu-AlHijjah 21, 1437, Sep 23, 2016, SPA -- The State of Kuwait, addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), called for pursuing discussions on human rights' deterioration in the occupied Arab territories according to the UN Chapter VII.
According to KUNA, a lot of such recurring violations of these rights by Israel in the occupied territories are tantamount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, said the State of Kuwait's Permanent Delegate to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghneim, addressing the Council's 33rd session.
Credibility of the UNHRC will be at stake, now more than any other times, in case the Council's member States abstained from shouldering their responsibilities toward the Palestinian people, Ambassador Al-Ghneim warned in his statement to the Council.
Nations of the globe view the Council as an effective international body capable of undertaking serious measures to boost and safeguard the human rights all over the world, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories, the State of Kuwait Envoy noted.
The Council's current debates on conditions in the occupied territories coincide with renewed Israeli breaches of all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, he said, stressing on necessity of safeguarding these rights, namely the basic right to living, determining their destiny, ending the occupation and establishing the independent and sovereignty of a Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant UN resolutions.
He called for coercing Israel to stop promptly such breaches, abide by the relevant UN resolutions and accords, also urging in particular for releasing thousands of Palestinian prisoners, lifting the unjust siege on Gaza, opening the checkpoints and military blockades dotting the occupied territories.
Continuation of such Israeli practices jeopardizes chances for establishing peace, he said, also noting that Israel has recently reacted to a call by the international Quartet to stop construction of settlements by expanding the settlements further.
Ambassador Al-Ghneim called for considering seriously Israel's settlement activities in the occupied territories, especially in East Jerusalem and its peripheries, continuing construction of the separation wall, judaization measures in Jerusalem, demolishing the Palestinians' private and public properties, excavation works under Al-Aqsa Mosque and other sacred sites in the holy city.
Such actions, which account to explicit breach of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, will torpedo diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the occupation and establishing the independent Palestinian State and threaten the whole regional stability, he warned.
He expressed the State of Kuwait's profound regret at the international community's silence vis a vis Israel's policies aimed at providing incentives to its citizens to settle illegally in the occupied territories, as part of its quest to strengthen the occupation and alter the demographic and geographic status in these lands.
There are cases where the Israelis have ravaged agricultural fields, contaminated water resources, as part of the schemes to expand the settlements, Al-Ghneim said, also noting in this respect Tel Aviv's expropriation of the Palestinians' lands on which the settlements are being built without any compensation for the natives and the original landlords.
The State of Kuwait called on the world to bring Israel into account for the genocides it has been perpetrating, stressing that the occupation forces' alterations are null and void and has no legal grounds in line with the Geneva Convention.
Moreover, he drew the conferees' attention to the State of Kuwait's keenness on fulfilling its humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people and helping them bear the hardships they have been experiencing, singling out His Highness the Amir's recent declaration on holding an international convention to address plight of the Palestinian child.
The Kuwait-called conference is designed to shed light on Israel's abusive acts and circumventing of the international treaties namely its practices against the Palestinian children's rights.
Al-Ghneim also called for confronting the practices against the Palestinians through action to end the occupation and addressing a clear message to the Israeli aggressor.
He also urged all parties in the occupied territories to cooperate with Michael Lynk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, with aim of implementing the relevant international laws.
--SPA
14:14 LOCAL TIME 11:14 GMT
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