[Herald Sun-Australia] Alan Howe - In a sneering perversion of logic, some Arab and African nations, to whom human rights are an unnecessary indulgence, sit at some of the UN's top tables, including the UN Human Rights Council. Sharing leg space under the UN's influential desks are such legendary stalwarts of democratic fairness and equality as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Cameroon, Madagascar, Jordan, Nigeria, Senegal and China. Tin pots, basket cases, thugs - take your pick. They were just some of the countries that, as members of the Human Rights Council, initiated and sat on an inquiry into the Israeli actions in Gaza, which took place almost a year ago. The UN Human Rights Council had its finding sewn up in January when it sent "an independent...fact-finding mission" to the "occupied Gaza Strip." Occupied by whom? The Israelis walked away from Gaza four years ago, controversially forcing its grumpy civilians to leave. The only Israeli in Gaza that I can think of is the kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Hamas terrorists for more than three years. Gazans paid Israelis back in spades for the long-sought opportunity to be masters of their own fate: they sent thousands of Kassam rockets over the border and on to local towns. Israelis wanted their government to stop the shelling and end the terror. That's why the Israeli army entered Gaza last December. If you are going to employ the terrorist tactics of hiding and operating in densely populated areas and schools, expect some painful collateral damage. Goldstone's report predictably accused Israel of human rights abuses in Gaza - so self-defense is now a crime?
2009-10-27 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive