Costello raises concerns about UN vote on Palestine

25 July 2014

by Cllr Joe Costello

Ireland’s decision to abstain on the resolution tabled at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday was most disappointing.

The resolution, “Ensuring Respect for International Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”, was carried by 29 votes to 1, with 16 abstentions. Ireland reflected the EU view, which was that the resolution was “unbalanced, inaccurate, and prejudges the outcome of the investigation by making legal statements”, and that the EU would prefer an inquiry by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights rather than the independent international commission of inquiry, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council proposed in the resolution.

In the past, Ireland has been to the forefront in leading EU thinking on the Middle East and took the initiative in November 2012, persuading many EU countries to support recognition of Palestine as a non-member state with observer status at the United Nations.

With the entire EU abstaining on the proposal for a Commission of Inquiry on grounds of imbalance and bias, it augurs badly for the outcome of that Commission’s deliberations. It also raises questions on the ability of the Human Rights Council to respond effectively to a violation of human rights in a conflict situation.