UN Chief Leaves Israel Off Childrens' Rights Blacklist

"United Nations Secretary General Bank Ki-Moon has decided not to include Israel or the Israel Defense Forces on its 'blacklist' of states and/or organizations that systematically and continuously harm children during time of conflict.

The secretary general's decision to leave the Israeli military off of the list was made against the recommendation of his special envoy on the matter, Leila Zerrougui of Algeria, following intense pressure from both Israel and the United States.

UN agencies in Israel and the Palestinian territories reported an alarming number of child victims in last year's war in the Gaza Strip but were split on whether Israel should be put on a list of violators of children's rights, a UN document said. The final decision on the report was left up to Ban.

Nevertheless, in the report ... Ban leveled harsh criticism over Israeli policy...

'I urge Israel to take concrete and immediate steps, including by reviewing existing policies and practices, to protect children, to prevent the killing and maiming of children, and to respect the special protections afforded to schools and hospitals,' Ban said..."