PHROC Dismayed by Israel's Election to Chair the General Assembly's Legal Sixth Committee

On 13 June 2016, Israel won a vote to chair the United NationsLegal Affairs Sixth Committee (hereinafter the Committee), with the support of 109 member states and no votes against.[1] The Committee acts as the central space through which legal questions are brought before the General Assembly. For 2016-2017, the agenda of the Committee will include measures to eliminate international terrorism, the rule of law at national and international levels, and responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts, amongst others.[2]

The Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council (PHROC) reminds the international community of Israel's countless policies and measures towards Palestinians which violate international human rights and humanitarian law, including UN conventions and resolutions. Such flagrant violations of law have occurred since the establishment of Israel in 1948. While the UN and the international community at-large continually condemn Israeli crimes such as the illegal presence and expansion of settlements, the transfer of civilians, and excessive use of force against Palestinians, including cases which may amount to extra-judicial killings, no real action has been taken to change the status quo.[3]

PHROC further notes Israel's continuous attempts to undermine and obstruct the work of various UN mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies, and its failure to permit entry to UN-mandated Special Rapporteurs. Such actions weaken essential mechanisms that promote and guarantee international human rights and justice.

Rather than taking stock of Israel’s history and the current state of Palestinian rights both in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and within the Green Line and implement sanctions against Israel, member states instead elected Israel's UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, as chair of the Committee. Danon isknown for his rightwingviews which contradict basic tenets of international law, including the annexation of Israeli settlements[4] and the immediate deportation of asylum seekers.[5]

PHROC is dismayed by Member States who voted in favour of Danon’s appointment, as well as those who abstained. By electing an individual such as Danon to a legal committee, the international community’s commitment to human rights and international law is put into question.

Instead of rewarding Israel, States should work to end the prolonged occupation of Palestine and hold Israel accountable, by means of sanctions, for its breaches of international law. In light of this, PHROC considers such vote as evidence to the international community's failure to respect and abide by norms of international law.

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