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THE UNITED NATION’S committee on human rights launched an investigation into Israel’s actions in Gaza last night.
But in the vote on whether the Commission of Inquiry should be started, Ireland abstained.
The resolution on Gaza was drafted by Palestine and backed by 29 countries, including China and Russia, as well as many Arab and Muslim countries and Latin American and African nations.
The probe will see Israel’s offensive held up to international scrutiny – but not the actions taken by Hamas and other military groups.
The US was the only country to vote against the proposed inquiry but 17 countries abstained. Including Ireland.
Why?
Ireland voted in line with what it calls its EU partners, including the United Kingdom.
And the European Union issued a statement last night to offer an explanation.
In short, the EU (and, by extension, Ireland) decided the resolution was one-sided and biased.
It said that the resolution proposed would not, in its opinion, provide a “sufficiently rapid response to the urgent situation on the ground”.
The EU also described the final draft text as ‘unbalanced and inaccurate’, believing it to prejudge the outcome of the investigation because of certain legal statements it makes.
The explanation for its abstention goes on to state that violations of human rights laws by Hamas and other militant groups must be included in the Commission of Inquiry.
“The draft resolution also fails to condemn explicitly the indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israeli civilian areas, as well as to recognise Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself,” it continued.
For this reason the EU cannot support this resolution and EU Member States who are members of this Council will abstain.
The resolution does not mention Hamas but does condemn the killing of two Israeli civilians. It reads:
The Human Rights Council… Condemns all violence against civilians wherever it occurs, including the killing of two Israeli civilians as a result of rocket fire, and urges all parties concerned to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The EU emphasised that it had worked “intensively” yesterday “until the last minute” to find a text its members could support.
We were prepared to continue working for this goal. Unfortunately, however we regret that it was not possible to reach a positive outcome.
“This is such an important issue with the suffering of so many people on both sides at stake that it would have been a far better testament to this Human Rights Council if we could have been united.”
The chosen solution for the EU would be to dispatch an OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) inquiry mission to investigate all violations and abuses of human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides.
Late last night, the Department of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement to outline Ireland’s position following the vote.
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Patricia O’Brien said that Irish people were “appalled” by the violence in Gaza and the “very high and unacceptable level of civilian casualties”.
“It is clear to us that neither side is paying adequate regard to the cost of their actions on innocent civilians,” she added.
Ireland has called for an “end of the restrictions imposed on the people by the continuing Israeli blockade and the general closing off of Gaza” and the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1860.
(That 2009 resolution calls for a full and immediate ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.)
“The continued absence for people in Gaza of any political or economic perspective for the future is a breeding ground for extremist action,” continued O’Brien.
“Ireland fully accepts that the Government of Israel has the right to defend its people, but this right does not negate the rights of others. Any use of military force in self defence must be in accordance with international humanitarian law, and in particular must be both discriminate and proportionate.
In view of the casualty figures, we do not believe that this has been the case.
“We would also stress that the firing of missiles against Israeli civilian targets is without doubt contrary to international law.”
O’Brien concluded that Ireland would like to support an “appropriate investigation into breaches of international law”.
Last night, hundreds of people protested in front of the Department of Foreign Affair’s Dublin headquarters.
“The world has looked away for far too long,” Trevor Hogan, the ex-rugby international who visited Gaza last year, told the crowd, adding:
Just today, the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has finally admitted that Israel is probably committing war crimes in Gaza, including the deliberate destruction of civilian homes and the killing of children.
The demonstration was called by Gaza Action Ireland (GAI) and supported by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Sadaka and the Palestinian Community in Ireland.
Speaking on Newstalk this morning, the Israeli ambassador to Dublin, Boaz Modai, criticised the passing of the resolution.
“The UN human rights council could have changed its name a long time ago to ‘UN Terrorists’ Rights Council. They are protecting terrorists” he said, angrily.
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Well done lads. People homeless and good educated kids leaving the Country in the thousands and all they worry about is a prayer. Well Trump will have the last laugh on these politicians and I hope he recinds the invite for Paddys Day to them
@linda o keeffe: The opposition,that’s why they lost the election.
@Gerard Mahady: top comment 100% the invasion and erosion of our culture and land by Islam enabled by our liberal left government and opposition and sure we the people are all far right better watch what we say especially after the Garda bugging of journalists in our so called democracy freedom of speech will be a distant memory
@Gerard Mahady: They’d introduce it, if they could!
@I’m a robot Robot: we have established right wing parties only very recently. They are very inexperienced and it will take a few years for people to trust them handling our problems. It will inevitably happen where we will get an actual right wing party. Next election will definitely see a growth in right wing parties popularity. 8 years time there will be a right wing party in charge no doubt. Just look across Europe. Reform UK were established recently, and didn’t get voted in because people didn’t trust them handling the money because of their inexperience. Now Nigel Farge is favourite to be the next prime minister of the UK. (Check Paddy Power). Right wing parties are winning in Sweden, Austria, Denmark, US, Canada, Australia, NZ, Germany, Italy, Poland etc. It’s inevitable thankfully
@Joe Willis: reply meant for David
Nope!!!!
@Dman: why not?
@Darius Guppy: Why change it? The country didn’t vote for the opposition.
@Daniel Roche: Ridiculous comment and how did the opposition get elected, osmosis?
It would be much better if the state took the church to court for the hundreds of millions, still owed, to the people of Ireland for what happened to our citizens.
@Jimmy Donovan: That will get silence guaranteed Mr Donovan ,many moments me thinks.
@Jimmy Donovan:
Hundreds of Millions from where? What do you thinks the market values of cathedrals, monasteries and churches are? Mostly negative equity considering the maintenance costs.
We are facing dangerous times and this . Please don’t waste our time with nonsense. The best can can be managed are compensation schemes, which mean the we the taxpayers pay, for state negligence 50 + years ago. BTW these compensation /redress schemes should be out, they are totally abused with false and exaggerated claims
@Antony Stack: The Vatican Bank ,I believe they are quite liquid ,maybe there ,what you think before we start selling Cathedrals?
Excellent. No place for religion in politics
@FoxyBoiiYT: The opposition lost the election.
@FoxyBoiiYT: NO Place for any religion in these times. It’s easy to start a Cult!
@Daniel Roche: You must be a detective?
A prayer gets first headline over TD’s declaring any additional income & liabilities !!
.
Let us pray.
@Tom: Praying? While Homeless people haven’t a prayer of getting a roof over their head’s! Beautiful Hypocrisy Isn’t!???
Half their time is spent governing themselves, and the other half is spent solving the problems of other countries.
What a shower of wasters.
Good to see they’re focusing on the important things ffs.
At last. They are really getting something done up there…….
@Oh Mammy: yes, they have loads to do and prayer is a waste of time. They don’t need a moment of reflection either, it’s codswallop.
None of the above ideas will ever come to fruition. All I can see is the moment of reflection being brought in. As your asking a Minister to be held accountable, your making me laugh writing this. As it’s the Civil Servants who are wasting money like the OPW – Office of Professional Wasters
If that part of our culture and heritage can go so can the Irish language.
@Vincent Alexander: Religion is forced on people…NO getting away with that. Look at the Apologies the RCC had to say about Native Canadian People. And THAT is not that far back in History.
@Mick Hanna: So is the Irish language being forced on people currently.
Honestly can’t believe they pray in the Dáil. Such anachronistic nonsense
Tackling the big issues
Since they came back, they’ve elected a not so new taoiseach, had a week off, then decided to have a big hullabaloo over the. Irish language and proposed a moment of reflection to t replace a prayer. Have they done anything worthwhile since the Dail recovered?
SInn Fein in progressive vestments again. it used to be said the the quality of a government was due to the quality of the opposition. The Middle East and Ukraine are existential threats to everybody including us and this is SF’s big issue. A party which has dome it’s best to overthrow the state for 100 years so that they can start a Hamas inspired war with UK. WIle failing to notice the mayhem in the streets casued by their own failure to defend Ireland
Praise the Lord.
This is still a Christian Country..Found by..fought for by christians so hzve some respect and Say your prayers Before Dail sittings…
A BUNCH OF PAGANS THEY CANT PRAY OR GOVERN
@Thomas Brophy: Really not fair on Pagans
It easy understand why people reelected the last government because the state of this opposition is unbelievable. They continue with stupid irrelevant clap trap about the most stupid rules and regulations.
@Tim Brennan: Tim, not nice, but dim the gift that keeps on giving. Stay off the sauce, Brennan.
About time.
Form a committee to discuss the remit of the committee and which snouts are in the trough. Do anything and everything to suit the new waves of the death cult fawning hamas loving brigade.
have your say