U.N. Body Recommends Sending Investigator to Territories

Israeli officials say they doubt a recommendation by the U.N. Human Rights Commission to send an investigator to the administered territories will be acted upon by the U.N. General Assembly.

Political sources here described the resolution, passed last week in Geneva, as a “routine decision adopted by this forum almost every year.”

Moreover, political observers say the move was adopted this year with the support of 26 countries, compared to 30 last year.

The Human Rights Commission resolution to dispatch an investigator has never been acted on in the past, and Israel regards the resolution mainly as politically motivated statement, explained by the high number of Arab and Moslem countries belonging to the commission.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Eviatar Manor said the resolution is detached from reality, since it does not include “even one word” in favor of the Middle East peace process.

The commission called for a special emissary to be appointed who would investigate suspicions of human rights violations by Israel in the territories. Formally, the resolution will be brought as a recommendation to the U.N. General Assembly.

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 26-16. Among those voting against the resolution were the United States, Russia, Japan and European countries. Five members abstained.

The Human Rights Commission has also been the target of Jewish criticism for failing to condemn anti-Semitic violence as well as for its inclusion of an offensive statement by the Palestine Liberation Organization that was included as part of the commission’s official records.