U.N. expert praises pullout progress
Special rapporteur on human rights says Israel's pullout plan is brave and the right thing to do; says despite improvements human rights problems remain long term
A United Nations human rights expert urged Israel to press ahead with dismantling settlements after giving rare praise Wednesday to the government and military for recent progress in the occupied territories.
The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, John Dugard, highlighted Israel's recent release of Palestinian prisoners, the abandonment of some checkpoints, an end to house demolitions and targeted killings, as well as the rerouting of the security fence through the West Bank.
"I think these are important moves in the right direction," Dugard said.
Praised Sharon's pullout plan
In a report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which is holding its annual meeting in Geneva, Dugard singled out Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza pullout plan.
"It is a brave move on the part of Israel, and one that divides Israel," he wrote. "But it is the right thing to do and should be acknowledged as such by those concerned about human rights and humanitarian law in the Palestinian territory."
Dugard, whose report was based on visit to Palestinian territories and Israel after a ceasefire agreement in February, has been a fierce critic of human rights violations by Israel.
In an earlier report released two months ago he sharply criticized house demolitions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, warning that they could constitute "serious war crimes".
'Palestinian patience is not unlimited'
However, Dugard underlined that fundamental human rights problems remained in the long term despite the recent improvements.
"I believe that Palestinian patience is not unlimited, and that if Israel does not address some of the key issues, then Palestinian patience will run out and militants will once more resume their activities and threaten Israel's security," he said.
The report emphasized the Palestinian Authority needs to control militant groups responsible for suicide bombings and attacks on settlers and the IDF.
However, Dugard said, Israel must also "keep its side of the bargain", by tackling the main human rights issues.
Meabwhile, ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Yitzhak Levanon, welcomed "a number of new and positive elements" in the report.
