UN Human Rights "Expert" Equates U.S. Aid to Israel with Military Aid to Genocidal Assad Regime

On September 22, 2016, the UN "Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order," Alfred de Zayas, delivered a statement which condemned the provision of military aid to Israel and equated it with arming the Assad regime in Syria. In the words of the UN press release:

"The UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred de Zayas, today called on States to stop exporting weapons to countries when there is a risk these will be used to commit gross human rights violations... 'Military aid cannot be granted to countries that engage in activities that the international community, the International Court of Justice or the Human Rights Council have found to contravene international law and human rights treaties.'...

'In this context, as in every other where foreign military assistance and bilateral military aid amounting to billions of dollars are provided to occupying States such as Israel, to States where there is an ongoing conflict, from Syria to South Sudan and Yemen, the respect of human rights treaty obligations is at great risk,' he added."