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On Tuesday, Israel lashed out at the United Nations after the UNHRC named the chairman of the team which will investigate Israeli war crimes in Gaza. William Schabas, aCanadian international lawyer, is all set to lead the commission – Schabas is widely regarded by Israel as being hostile to it.
“This commission’s anti-Israeli conclusions have already been written, all it needs is a signature.For this commission the important thing is not human rights but the rights of terrorist organisations like Hamas”, Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, said.
In several interviews given to Israeli media, Schabas has defended himself against claims of bias against Israel.
“I’ve frequently lectured in Israel, at universities in Israel, I’m a member of the editorial board of the Israel law review, I wouldn’t do those things if I was anti-Israel”, he told Israeli public radio.
He also challenged Palmor’s assertion that the commission has already made its decision.
“As far as I’m concerned they’re not written at all, that’s the whole point of an investigation.Many of the questions we have to examine will deal with very precise matters on which the generalities about the conflict don’t provide any insight.When we look at specific incidents in which… civilians were killed during the conflict, there are issues about targeting, about proportionality, each one of these has to be examined specifically”, he said.
In another interview he gave to Israeli army radio, Schabas said that he will look into the action of Palestinian forces as well.
“The mandate that the commission has been given doesn’t specify this and I think a reasonable interpretation would be that mandate requires you to look at both sides”, he said.
He also revealed that the commission will publish its findings in March 2015.
Israel has accused the UN rights body of singling it out in its meetings and passing several anti-Israel resolutions. In January 2012, Israel became the first country to not attend a review of its human rights record. Two months later, when the UNHRC launched an enquiry into West Bank settlements, Israel cut all ties with the council.
