UN "Human Rights" Council Adopts Resolution Focusing on Human Rights of Palestinians, Not Jews

The UN's top human rights body, the Human Rights Council, concluded the final day of its main annual session on March 24, 2017 by adopting a resolution entitled "Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem". It was one of 5 anti-Israel resolutions adopted in a single day. By comparison, only one resolution was adopted by the Council for each of Iran, Syria and North Korea.

The resolution, submitted by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council by a vote of 41 in favor (Albania, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, China, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela), 2 against (Togo, United States), 4 abstentions (Congo, Panama, Paraguay, Rwanda).

The resolution includes the following:

"The Human Rights Council,
...
Expressing grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that arising from the excessive use of force and military operations causing death and injury to Palestinian civilians, including children and women, as well as to non-violent, peaceful demonstrators and to journalists, including through the use of live ammunition;...

10. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where bombardment of populated areas has caused extensive loss of life and a vast number of injuries, including among thousands of children and women,..."