UN Human Rights Commission Condemns Israel - 2004-03-24

The UN Human Rights Commission condemned Israel in Geneva for its policy of assassinating Palestinian extremist leaders, while the Israeli army undertook further operations in the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, the Commission voted 31 in favor, 2 against - the United States and Australia - and 18 abstentions, condemning Israel for the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas. Council members were unable to reach an agreement after nearly 4 hours of discussion, with the US stating it would not support a resolution that did not also condemn Palestinian terrorist operations. Nasser al-Khodweh, the Palestinian representative, stated he could not accept that Palestinian groups be mentioned. During the discussions, he called the assassination of Sheikh Yassin a war crime. The Israeli ambassador labeled him the godfather of terrorism. Previously, dozens of representatives from Islamic countries, as well as Japan and 4 permanent members of the Security Council, condemned Israel's actions. Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli forces demolished two houses and exchanged fire with Palestinians. Soldiers also killed two Palestinians who, according to them, attempted to enter a Jewish neighborhood in Gaza. In another event, Khaled Mashal, the political leader of Hamas in Syria, announced that Hamas would consider the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in retaliation for Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's blood. In other Middle Eastern events, Palestinian sources reported that Israeli tanks continued their movement towards Khan Younis, a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. On the other hand, Israeli soldiers arrested a young Palestinian who had strapped an explosive device to his waist at a checkpoint in the West Bank.