The Commission of Inquiry, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, said the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and discrimination against the Palestinian population are “root causes” of recurring tension and instability in the region.
The committee considered this “a sign of the unequal nature of the conflict and the reality of occupation by one country by another”.
On the other hand, Tel Aviv, which refused to cooperate with the committee, stated that “the report is biased, misleading and incompetent because of its hatred of the State of Israel and is based on a long series of biased and misleading reports.”
Navi Pillay, chairman of the committee and former High Commissioner for Human Rights, wrote in her report that “most of the conclusions and recommendations for root causes were addressed to Israel, and this shows the asymmetric nature of the conflict and the reality of the occupying state for another.”
The committee’s first report emphasized that “the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and discrimination against Palestinians are the two main causes of recurring tension, instability and protracted conflict in the region.”
In this context, investigative committee member Melon Kothari said in a statement: “Our analysis of the results and recommendations of previous United Nations mechanisms and bodies clearly indicates that ending the Israeli occupation, in full compliance with Security Council resolutions, is essential to ending the recurring cycles violence.”
The report indicated that the 18-page document had been submitted to the Palestinian and Israeli authorities prior to its release.
Denouncing the publication of the report, about twenty students and Israeli army reserve soldiers demonstrated in front of the United Nations headquarters in Geneva.
