Israel

Tensions rise after UN Report

Many people and groups were angered and disappointed after the release of the UN Report September 2nd concerning the legality and morality of the Flotilla Blockade in Gaza and the attack of Israeli Forces on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara. The UN’s Palmer Report was given by President Alvaro Uribe, former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, and was then presented to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Some, including Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, have vocalized their concerns with, and opposition to, the Palmer-Report. On Tuesday, September 13th, five members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) released a very different report, opposing statements released by the Palmer-Report, especially those concerning the legality of the blockade. Foreign Minister Davutoglu maintains that Turkey will be taking the fight to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague.

Turkey is not submitting to the Palmer Report and it appears that they are not the only ones. The UNHRC reported that the blockade was in violation of part four of the Geneva Conventions because many Palestinians have not had access to efficient amounts of food, medical supplies, health and hygiene because of the blockade. Therefore they claim that Israel’s naval blockade is indeed in violation of international law. Norman Gary Finkelstein, an American-Jewish political scientist who is known for being banned from Israel because of his statements condemning Israeli policy on The Middle East, agreed today, calling the Palmer-Report a “mixture of legal fraud and moral imbecility.” Many believe that the intention of the Palmer Report was to mend the relationship between Turkey and Israel by taking a neutral stance and urging both sides to cooperate in diplomacy. Although noble in its efforts, this has enraged many, including Richard Falk, UNHRC Representative, who released a statement saying “It is unfortunate that, in the report, politics should trump the law.” There seems to be no-end-in-sight to the Gaza Blockade Saga, and the dispute between Israel and Turkey continues to get heated while both maintain their rightfulness in their actions concerning the blockade and the attack of the Mavi Marmara. Many are asking the US to take sides, and with the US’s history with Israel, it is likely that they would absolve the blockade, yet the US is keeping up efforts to remain neutral for now. The real issue now seems to be that until there is more cooperation on both Turkey’s and Israel’s behalf, the Palestinians in Gaza will continue to struggle for food and clean water. They are not getting adequate resources and cannot reach the fishing waters, which is a necessity for their livelihood, as many use the fish for trade as well as their own consumption. It is clear for now that the situation between the two states will not be easily defused.

Liberal

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index.php/middle-east/2580-un-panel-says-gaza-blockade-is-collective-punishment

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-256895-palmer-report-an-example-of-moral-imbecility-says-jewish-intellectual.html

September 16, 2011 at 01:09 am