Israel rejects claims of 'crime against humanity'
December 10, 2008
Yahoo News
Original Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081210/wl_mideast_afp/unrightsisraelpalestinian_081210152356

JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israel adamantly rejected on Wednesday accusations by the UN monitor of human rights in the Palestinian territories that the Jewish state is committing a crime against humanity.
UN expert on human rights Richard Falk had discredited himself by the accusations, which were related to Israel's nearly 18-month blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said.
The credibility of this expert has suffered a major blow with this announcement, which consists more of anti-Israel propaganda than truth, spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP.
Israel has sealed off the Gaza Strip from all but basic goods since the Islamist movement Hamas, which is pledged to its destruction, seized power in June 2007 after routing forces loyal to Western-backed president Mahmud Abbas.
The situation in Gaza is the direct result of the violence inflicted by Hamas, not only on Israeli civilians but the Palestinian population, Palmor said.
Since Hamas seized power Palestinian militants have fired thousands of rockets and mortars on nearby Israeli communities, though there has been a drastic decline in attacks since a truce went into effect on June 19.
Falk had earlier called on the United Nations to make an urgent effort to protect a civilian population being collectively punished by policies that amount to a crime against humanity.
He also suggested the International Criminal Court investigate the situation and consider prosecuting Israeli civilian and military leaders.
Such a flurry of denunciations by normally cautious UN officials has not occurred on a global level since the heyday of South African apartheid, Falk said.
And still Israel maintains its Gaza siege in its full fury, allowing only barely enough food and fuel to enter to stave off mass famine and disease.
Israel on Tuesday allowed some 70 trucks filled with humanitarian aid and fuel supplies to enter the territory of 1.5 million people, the fifth such shipment in the last month.
After a surge in violence on November 4, Israel tightened the blockade and has said it can not open the crossings because of the danger to its staff at the terminals from mortar and rocket fire by Gaza militants.