Israel has denied entry to a UN human rights team seeking to probe this summers war in the Gaza Strip. Authorities in Jerusalem have given their initial approval to the construction of 200 new settlement homes.
On Wednesday, Israel's Foreign Ministry formally refused to cooperate with the commission of inquiry sent by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the actions of both sides during the summer's war in Gaza. Israeli officials had expressed reservations when the UNHRC appointed the commission in August, but had not decided whether to cooperate. A statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday made matters clear, accusing the UNHRC of "obsessive hostility" and charging that the commission had reached its conclusions in advance.
"We will not work with them, and they will not enter Israel," spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said.
The war in Gaza killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, the vast majority of them civilians. Six people were killed within Israel by rocket attacks launched from Gaza and 66 soldiers died in combat in the Strip.
Israel bombed and shelled 5,000 targets, destroying 20,000 homes and damaging 40,000, according to the Palestinian Authority. Militants launched more than 4,000 rockets across the border.
'Requirements to build'
A Jerusalem panel has approved plans to develop a new settlement in Palestinian territory. Brachie Sprung, speaking for the city, said the decision had nothing to do with recent politics. She said that officials had not intended any provocation in giving approval at a time of escalating tension in the city.
"It's a private developer who owns the land, so, according to the law, he answered all the necessary requirements to build on it," Sprung said, adding that the committee hadn't considered the timing of the decision, coming as it did amid days of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters.
Israel regards Ramot as a Jewish neighborhood located within Jerusalem's boundaries on land captured in the 1967 war and then annexed in a move never internationally recognized. Palestinians and the international community, however, regard Ramot as a settlement, built mostly beyond the "green line" separating Israel from the West Bank. Ongoing settlement expansion has added to the frustrations of Palestinians, who want a viable state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
"We are deeply concerned by this decision, particularly given the tense situation in Jerusalem," US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a media briefing on Wednesday.
@ http://www.dw.de/israel-denies-entry-to-gaza-for-unhrc-fact-finders/a-18059587
In somewhat related note:
Norway's doctor of peace for Gaza, Mads Gilbert, has been hit by a lifetime ban from entering the region by the Israeli government on Thursday.
Who is doctor Mads Gilbert?
- Born in Oslo, 1947.
- Head physician specialising in anesthesiology at University Hospital of North Norway.
- Over 30 years working in international conflict areas, especially Gaza.
- Awards include Fritt Ords Honorary Prize (2009).
- Appointed Commander to the Order of St Olaf (2013).
- Received PhD at University of Iowa.
Israeli authorities cited security reasons as to why they have shut doctor Gilbert out from the Gaza Strip.
The Norwegian 67-year-old has travelled to and from Gaza to treat Palestinians. This summer, the chief physician who lives and works in North Norway, was back working at Shifa hospital, Gaza, where he treated over 50 days many of the 11,000 injured.
The doctor was attempting to return to the region in October to help in the hospital and was stopped by Israeli officials from entering.
Gilbert says: When we came back to the Erez border station, the Israeli soldiers told me that I could not go in to Gaza.
Now the Israeli government is stating it is for security reasons that Gilbert is banned, according to an email from the Norwegian embassy in Tel Aviv. The embassy took up the case on Gilbert's behalf after he was refused entry last month.
Norway's Secretary of State, Bård Glad Pedersen, said to VG: From the Norwegian perspective, we have raised Gilbert's exclusion from Gaza and asked Israel to change their decision. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is still difficult and there is a need for all health workers.
Gilbert himself believes the decision is connected to his critical comments against the state of Israel.
The outspoken peace activist wrote a letter to the global media in July this year, evoking the extreme conditions at the Gaza hospital he worked in.
@ http://www.thelocal.no/20141114/israel-shuts-gilbert-out-from-gaza-for-life#.VGVjNErBl4w.twitter