VP/HR — Israel denies UN Special Rapporteur access to occupied Palestinian territories
13.1.2016
Question for written answer E-000202-16
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Sofia Sakorafa (GUE/NGL)
On 4 January 2016, Makarim Wibisono of Indonesia, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, tendered his resignation in protest at Israel's repeated refusal to allow him access to the territories was supposed to be monitoring.
He has on a number of occasions expressed deep concern at the lack of effective protection for Palestinian victims of ongoing human rights violations and infringements of international humanitarian law by Israel, which has repeatedly denied access to the occupied Palestinian territories for Amnesty International, international observers, MEPs, journalists, UN special rapporteurs, ad hoc UN human rights committees, etc. In a press release, the Israeli authorities claimed that that the Special Rapporteur had not received a balanced remit and similarly criticised the conduct of the Human Rights Council and the content of its resolutions[1].
In view of this:
- 1.What view does the Vice-President/High Representative take of the position adopted by Israel? Does she consider that it is infringing Article 2 of its Association Agreement with the EU concerning respect for human rights?
- 2. What steps has she taken, or does she intend to take (under Article 3(5) TEE), to ensure the protection of human rights and strict compliance with international law?
- [1] http://www.google.be/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjD_oPtq6TKAhUHng4KHQgmDN8QFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fembassies.gov.il%2FUnGeneva%2FNewsAndEvents%2FPages%2F20160104-Press-Release-SR-Wibisono-Resigned-his-unbalanced-mandate.aspx&usg=AFQjCNGuS-XykGxckYtNo6ITryzXF6Z2mw