’WPC¬  rśk ėÜUź³7ƒŽ©$Ęz³E€[„D+¬ēcšż±™•¶²äB‹ążŸzū€€Eų}ˆh«xĆ õ žšOĖ3ö¹ i§ø,ĶdBmååŒ1oe”8§ž^uö²Ćą45’L¾ĒüXYN†:"Įu˜Šh$}ŗ×:”TŖ–Ś·ż@‡“±WƒæąŖ7jOż‡ŠĻ`yŪŚ)’ķ…xģö˜‚é‹ļČ?“ŗcģ¾^iŖc ČŖ*Y(,n¬}Å£&Ž”'­VŲµæ¬ £°¾©7ī”C¶”¬9Óö¼Š"¼p•6P¦.ÓÄo^4}'‚„Ūņ3µŠÄ ¦ā×ÆU®n‚-ß>_1½xņ#@¶>¢ųZügŽSń2"ĘGAo0ŖŽäæ?T°ĒĪāH5KŽīĢ~]n€m”$¦ō—¦Ī«ÕŌ¬śW/ĖE­‚Ļ-g ŒjćŪŖ73CÄ ,ēęZ3Enµm“0»@3c5`’!HGFč½ļƒµ‰Ł–Įœ”L{ĪNˆ½Š-Īˆ«÷ēÕAdn}Y]¹ ½vŸ™Į²ļ,ó/£REz¶žƒt™ĄO ĻGoŸP€PHSĶ*jßĀ½k¹[õė5Ä4Ņü8ä§ń$÷…R/#É’UN[ %© 0:ÆU>ééN'^ )w549 0ĢM 0  9 H mJ 0ja 1uĖ Ė 72@ 0cr r r r r r r r r r r r r 0šÕ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ Õ 0Ķo B-< 0Ci ˜HP PSC 2350 seriesTŽ––––TŽ0(ČhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ōō\  `&Times New RomanĖmL5‡ K4:\6K >’’4heading 1Ń  ŃÓ  Óņ ņŌ UK ŌŌ‡XXXŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌŃ  ŃÓ  Óó óŌ US ŌŌ‡XXXŌ<rr’’:footnote refņ ņņņŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌó óóóŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ<’’:footnote texŃ  ŃŌ UK ŌŌ US ŌŃ  Ń3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3£$““Ō2#ŌŚ  Ś0Ś  Ś.Ō3  Ōą0  ą62 %’’4heading 2Ń  ŃÓ  Óņ ņŌ UK ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  Óó óŌ US ŌŃ  Ń28+8 ’’0ParaNo.Ó8.‰‰ļ9 ‘ éA™ńI”łQ©!$8ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓ8.‰‰į9 ‘ éA™ńI”łQ©!$8Ó)Hairline d(’’$ņņŚ  ŚŚ  ŚóóŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņŌUSUK.,ŌŌ‡¼qø»XXŌÓ  ÓISRAELŌ#†X;X»¼qøR#ŌŠ ° ŠÓqÓÓÓĢSpecial€Action€or€Decisions€Taken€Re:€Reporting,€Including€Urgent€Action€ProcedureŌUK.,US.,@ŌŌCE.,UK.,ŌŠ ° ŠŌUK.,CE.,HŌŌUSUK.,ŌĢŌ_ŌCERDŌ_Ō€€A/49/18€(1994)ó óŠ ˆŲ ŠĢAnnex€IIIŠ ` ° ŠĢņņDecisions€and€general€recommendations€adopted€by€the€€Committee€at€its€forty-fourth€and€forty-fifthŠ 8 ˆ ŠsessionsóóŠ $ t  ŠĢA.€ņņDecisionsŠ üL  ŠóóĢņņDecision€1€(44).€Urgent€report€requested€from€IsraelóóŠ Ō$  ŠĢ1.€The€Committee€expresses€its€shock€at€the€appalling€massacre€committed€by€Israeli€settlers€againstŠ ¬ü  ŠPalestinian€worshipers€in€the€Abraham€mosque€at€Hebron€on€25€February€1994.Š ˜č ŠĢ2.€In€accordance€with€article€9,€paragraph€1€(b),€of€the€International€Convention€on€the€EliminationŠ pĄ Šof€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€with€reference,€in€particular,€to€article€5€(b)€of€theŠ \¬ ŠConvention,€the€Committee€requests€the€Government€of€Israel€to€send€it€an€urgent€report,€no€laterŠ H˜ Šthan€30€June€1994,€on€measures€taken€to€guarantee€the€safety€and€protection€of€the€PalestinianŠ 4„ Šcivilians€in€the€occupied€Palestinian€territory€and€to€bring€to€an€end€the€illegal€action€of€IsraeliŠ  p Šsettlers€and€to€disarm€them.Š  \ ŠĢ1023ņņrdóó€meetingŠ ä4 Š7€March€1994Š  Š  ŠŌ_Ōņ ņCERD€€A/50/18€(1995)ó óŠ ° ŠĢņņStatement€concerning€Israel€adopted€by€the€Committee€at€its€forty„sixth€sessionóóŠ ˆŲ ŠĢ669.€€In€a€note€verbally€presented€by€the€Permanent€Representative€of€Israel€to€the€Secretary-GeneralŠ `° Šof€the€United€Nations€dated€6€October€1994,€surprise€is€expressed€concerning€the€Committee's€regretŠ L œ Šthat€Israel€"has€not€submitted€the€urgent€report€the€Committee€requested€in€its€decision€1€(44)€of€7Š 8 ˆ ŠMarch€1994".€€In€this€connection€Israel€drew€attention€to€the€materials€it€submitted€on€30€June€1994Š $ t Šand€to€supplementary€information€supplied€on€8€August€1994,€and€requested€that€these€materials€beŠ  ` Špublished€as€Israel's€report€to€CERD.Š ü L  ŠĢ670.€€In€reply,€the€Committee€sent€a€letter€to€the€Government€of€Israel€containing€the€followingŠ Ō$  Šelements:Š Ą  ŠĢ(a)€€€The€paragraph€quoted€by€Israel€from€the€Committee's€concluding€observations€reads€in€full:Š ˜č  Š"while€the€Committee€acknowledges€the€information€it€has€received€from€Israel€through€theŠ „Ō  ŠSecretary-General,€the€Committee€regrets€that€Israel€has€not€submitted€the€urgent€report€theŠ pĄ ŠCommittee€requested€in€its€decision€1€(44)€of€7€March€1994"€(A/49/18,€para.€85);Š \¬ ŠĢ(b)€€On€31€March€1994€the€Permanent€Mission€of€Israel€informed€the€Secretary-General€that€it€hadŠ 4„ Šestablished€an€inquiry€committee€with€respect€to€the€massacre€at€the€Tomb€of€the€Patriarchs€inŠ  p ŠHebron€and€that€a€copy€of€the€report€of€the€inquiry€committee€would€be€made€available€to€theŠ  \ ŠCommittee€as€a€matter€of€courtesy€and€without€prejudice€to€the€competence€of€the€Committee€in€theŠ ųH Šmatter;Š ä4 ŠĢ(c)€€On€the€basis€of€this€qualification€by€Israel€itself€of€the€materials€supplied,€the€Committee€hadŠ ¼  Šgood€reason€to€assume€that€these€materials€did€not€constitute€the€urgent€report€the€Committee€hadŠ Øų Šrequested.€The€Committee's€assumption€was€confirmed€by€the€fact€that€Israel€preferred€to€be€absentŠ ”ä Šwhen€the€question€was€discussed€by€the€Committee;Š €Š ŠĢ(d)€€Now€that€Israel€has€indicated€that€it€wishes€to€see€that€the€materials€supplied€to€the€CommitteeŠ X Ø Šbe€treated€as€the€urgent€report€requested€by€the€Committee,€the€Committee€is€ready€to€consider€theseŠ D!” Šmaterials€on€the€same€footing€as€urgent€reports€requested€from€other€States€parties;Š 0"€  ŠĢ(e)€€Recalling€the€final€paragraph€of€the€concluding€observations€adopted€by€the€Committee€on€18Š $X" ŠAugust€1994€(A/49/18,€para.€91),€the€Government€of€Israel€is€again€requested€to€expedite€its€seventhŠ ō$D # Šand€eighth€periodic€reports,€due€on€2€February€1992€and€1994€respectively,€and€to€include€in€themŠ ą%0!$ Ša€further€response€to€the€observations€in€question.€€They€should€be€submitted€in€time€forŠ Ģ&"% Šconsideration€at€the€Committee's€forty-seventh€session.Š ø'#& Šņ ņŠ  ¤(ō#' ŠCERD€A/51/18€(1996)ó óņņŠ ° ŠóóĢB.€€ņņDecisions€adopted€by€the€Committee€at€its€forty-ninth€sessionóóŠ ˆŲ ŠĢ31.€€At€its€forty-ninth€session,€the€Committee€discussed€under€this€agenda€item€the€situation€in€...Š `° ŠIsrael€...€Š L œ ŠĢ...ņņŠ $ t ŠĢóó35.€€With€respect€to€Israel,€the€Committee€recalled€its€statement€concerning€Israel€adopted€by€theŠ ü L  ŠCommittee€at€its€forty-sixth€session€ņņ6óó/€and€noted€that€a€letter€had€been€received€from€the€GovernmentŠ č 8  Šof€Israel€to€the€effect€that€it€will€make€every€effort€to€complete€and€submit€its€overdue€periodicŠ Ō$  Šreports€without€delay.€€The€Committee€requested€that€this€report€be€submitted€in€time€forŠ Ą  Šconsideration€at€its€fiftieth€session€and€decided€to€remove€Israel€from€the€list€of€countries€to€beŠ ¬ü  Šconsidered€under€its€early-warning€measures€and€urgent€procedures.Š ˜č  ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢ__________Š h+ø&* Šą  ąņņ6óó/€[ņņOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assemblyóó],€ņņFiftieth€Session,€Supplement€No.€18óóŠ T,¤'+ Š(A/50/18),€paras.€669„670.Š @-(, Š‡ņņAnnex€IIIóóŠ ° ŠĢŌ  ŌņņStatement€by€the€Committee€concerning€terrorist€acts€in€IsraelóóŠ ˆŲ ŠĢAt€its€1064ņņthóó€meeting,€on€16€August€1994,€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€RacialŠ `° ŠDiscrimination€adopted€its€decision€3(45)€expressing€grave€concern€over€terrorist€acts€victimizingŠ L œ Šcertain€racial,€ethnic€and€national€groups.€€It€condemned€all€forms€of€terrorism€and€stressed€theŠ 8 ˆ Šnecessity€of€strengthening€international€cooperation€to€prevent€such€attacks.Š $ t ŠĢIn€the€same€spirit€the€Committee€condemns€and€denounces€the€recent€terrorist€acts€in€Israel€resultingŠ ü L  Šin€the€indiscriminate€killing€of€innocent€people.Š č 8  ŠĢThe€Committee€joins€the€Secretary„General€of€the€United€Nations€in€calling€on€the€internationalŠ Ą  Šcommunity€to€stand€together,€to€speak€out€and€to€unite€in€action€against€all€acts€of€terrorism.€€TheŠ ¬ü  ŠCommittee€reiterates€that€there€is€no€justification€whatsoever€for€such€acts.Š ˜č  ŠĢThe€Committee€expresses€its€resolute€and€full€support€for€the€Middle€East€peace€process€and€forŠ pĄ Šwhat€has€been€so€painstakingly€achieved€by€Israel€and€the€Palestinian€Authority€in€the€interests€ofŠ \¬ Šthe€Israeli€and€Palestinian€peoples.Š H˜ ŠĢņņ1143ņņrdóó€meetingŠ  p Š6€March€1996óóŠ  \ ŠĢŠ  ä4 Šņ ņCERD€€A/52/18€(1997)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢII.€PREVENTION€OF€RACIAL€DISCRIMINATION,€INCLUDING€EARLY€WARNING€ANDŠ tÄ ŠURGENT€PROCEDURESŠ `° ŠĢ...Š 8 ˆ ŠĢņņDecisions€adopted€by€the€Committee€at€its€fifty-first€sessionóóŠ  ` ŠĢņņDecision€1€(51)€on€IsraelóóŠ č 8  ŠĢ1.€The€Committee€repeats€its€full€endorsement€of€the€Israel-Palestine€Liberation€Organization€peaceŠ Ą  Šprocess€and€again€expresses€the€opinion€that€the€principles€and€obligations€of€the€InternationalŠ ¬ü  ŠConvention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€should€be€an€essentialŠ ˜č  Šingredient€of€the€peace€process.€The€Committee€calls€on€the€parties€in€the€peace€process€to€observeŠ „Ō  Šand€implement€faithfully€the€Declaration€of€Principles€on€Interim€Self-Government€ArrangementsŠ pĄ Šsigned€by€Israel€and€the€Palestine€Liberation€Organization€on€13€September€1993,€theŠ \¬ ŠIsraeli-Palestinian€Interim€Agreement€on€the€West€Bank€and€the€Gaza€Strip€of€28€September€1995Š H˜ Šand€other€Israel-Palestine€Liberation€Organization€agreements.Š 4„ ŠĢ2.€The€Committee€confirms€its€view€that€the€Israeli€settlements€in€the€occupied€territories€are€notŠ  \ Šonly€illegal€under€international€law€but€also€an€obstacle€to€peace€and€the€enjoyment€of€human€rightsŠ ųH Šby€the€whole€population€in€the€region,€without€distinction€as€to€national€or€ethnic€origin,€inŠ ä4 Šaccordance€with€the€Convention.€The€Committee€expresses€its€serious€concern€that€the€continuingŠ Š  Špolicies€of€expansion€of€settlements€and€notably€the€establishment€of€an€Israeli€settlement€on€JabalŠ ¼  ŠAbu€Ghenaim€in€East€Jerusalem,€all€of€which€change€the€physical€character€and€demographicŠ Øų Šcomposition€of€the€occupied€territories,€including€Jerusalem,€give€rise€to€increasing€tensions€in€theŠ ”ä Šregion€and€jeopardize€the€peace€process.Š €Š ŠĢ3.€The€Committee€again€condemns€in€the€strongest€terms€terrorism€in€all€its€forms.€It€abhors€actsŠ X Ø Šwhich€result€in€the€indiscriminate€killing€of€innocent€people,€and€reiterates€that€there€is€noŠ D!” Šjustification€whatsoever€for€such€acts.€The€Committee€emphasizes€the€necessity€that€all€appropriateŠ 0"€  Šmeasures€be€taken,€including€those€prescribed€in€article€4€of€the€Convention,€against€extremist€andŠ #l! Šterrorist€organizations€that€promote€racial€hatred,€incite€to€violence€and€commit€terrorist€acts.Š $X" ŠFurther,€the€Committee€urges€all€States€parties€to€prevent€such€organizations€from€conducting€anyŠ ō$D # Šactivities,€including€training,€recruiting,€and€fund-raising,€in€territories€under€their€control.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ4.€The€Committee€rejects€the€closures€and€blocking€of€reimbursement€of€fees€and€revenues€to€theŠ ø'#& ŠPalestinian€Authority,€imposed€by€the€Israeli€authorities€on€the€occupied€territories€in€the€wake€ofŠ ¤(ō#' Šthe€dreadful€suicide€bombings€in€Jerusalem€on€30€July€1997,€that€amount€to€collective€punishmentŠ )ą$( Šcontrary€to€article€33€of€the€Fourth€Geneva€Convention.4€Those€closures€and€related€measuresŠ |*Ģ%) Šseverely€restrict€the€movement€of€people€and€goods€in€Gaza€and€the€West€Bank€and€result€inŠ h+ø&* Šdepriving€large€numbers€of€Palestinians€from€their€legal€employment€and€in€blocking€essentialŠ T,¤'+ Šrevenues€and€customs€duties€owed€to€the€Palestinian€Authority.€The€measures€taken€by€Israel€haveŠ @-(, Ša€devastating€effect€on€the€life€and€well-being€of€the€Arab€population€of€the€occupied€territories€andŠ ° Šcause€great€suffering.Š œģ ŠĢ5.€The€Committee€holds€that€those€measures€amount€to€collective€punishment€and€constitute€seriousŠ tÄ Šobstacles€to€the€peace€process,€and€it€urges€the€Government€of€Israel€to€lift€those€measures€forthwith.Š `° ŠĢ6.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€continuation€of€the€constructive€dialogue€carried€forward€withŠ 8 ˆ Šrepresentatives€of€Israel,€and€it€is€ready€to€contribute€to€any€confidence-building€measures€whichŠ $ t Šcommend€themselves€in€accordance€with€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€AllŠ  ` ŠForms€of€Racial€Discrimination.Š ü L  ŠĢ1236ņņthóó€meetingŠ Ō$  Š18€August€1997Š Ą  ŠĢĢĢÓĖÓŠ  pĄ Šņ ņCERD€€A/58/18€(2003)Š ° ŠĢó óÓ  ÓÓ  ÓII.ą  ąņņPREVENTION€OF€RACIAL€DISCRIMINATION,€INCLUDING€EARLY€WARNING€ANDŠ ˆŲ ŠURGENT€PROCEDURESóóŠ tÄ ŠĢ...Š L œ ŠĢB.€€ņņDecisions€adopted€by€the€Committee€at€its€sixty„third€sessionóóŠ $ t ŠĢ...Š ü L  ŠĢņņDecision€2€(63)óóŠ Ō$  ŠĢņņIsraelóóŠ ¬ü  ŠĢThe€Committee€is€concerned€about€Israelššs€Temporary€Suspension€Order€of€May2002,enacted€intoŠ „Ō  Šlaw€as€the€Nationality€and€Entry€into€Israel€Law€(Temporary€Order)€on31July2003,€whichŠ pĄ Šsuspends,€for€a€renewable€one„year€period,€the€possibility€of€family€reunification,€subject€to€limitedŠ \¬ Šand€discretionary€exceptions,€in€cases€of€marriage€between€an€Israeli€citizen€and€a€person€residingŠ H˜ Šin€the€West€Bank€or€Gaza.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€Suspension€Order€of€MayŠ 4„ Š2002€has€already€adversely€affected€many€families€and€marriages.Š  p ŠĢThe€Nationality€and€Entry€into€Israel€Law€(Temporary€Order)€of€31€July€2003€raises€serious€issuesŠ ųH Šunder€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination.€€TheŠ ä4 ŠState€party€should€revoke€this€law€and€reconsider€its€policy€with€a€view€to€facilitating€familyŠ Š  Šunification€on€a€non„discriminatory€basis.€€It€should€provide€detailed€information€on€this€issue€in€itsŠ ¼  Šnext€periodic€report.Š Øų ŠĢÓĪ0Óņņ1599th€meetingŠ €Š Š14€August€2003Š l¼ ŠóóÓ2Ó...Š X Ø ŠĢņņAnnex€VIIņ ņóóŠ 0"€  ŠĢņņó óCOMMENTS€OF€STATES€PARTIES€ON€THE€DECISIONS€AND€CONCLUDINGŠ $X" ŠOBSERVATIONS€ADOPTED€BY€THE€COMMITTEE€AND€REPLIES€OF€THE€COMMITTEEóóŠ ō$D # ŠĢ...Š Ģ&"% ŠĢņņDecision€2€(63)€on€Israelóó€ņņ*óóŠ ¤(ō#' Šņ ņŌUK.,US.,Ōó óĢą  ąThe€following€letter€was€addressed€to€the€Chairman€of€the€Committee€on€14€August€2003Š |*Ģ%) Šby€the€Permanent€Representative€of€Israel€to€the€UnitedNations€Office€at€Geneva:Š h+ø&* ŠĢŠ @-(, Š‡ą0  ąš šDear€Sir,Š°(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šI€am€writing€to€you€with€reference€to€your€letter€of€11€August€2003€addressed€to€Mr.€T.Š ˆŲ ŠIsraeli,€informing€us€of€the€decision€taken€by€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€RacialŠ tÄ ŠDiscrimination€to€hold€an€urgent€discussion€under€its€early€warning€and€urgent€procedures,Š `° Šregarding€Israelššs€recent€amendment€to€the€Citizenship€and€Entry€into€Israel€Law€(TemporaryŠ L œ ŠProvision)€of€31€July€2003.€€Š8 ˆ(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šIsrael€is€surprised€and€shocked€by€such€a€decision€and€views€the€Committeeššs€initiative€asŠ  ` Šbeing€highly€politicized,€demonstrating€a€biased€approach€which€singles€out€Israel.€€This€isŠ ü L  Šparticularly€troubling€given€the€fact€that€Israel,€by€its€own€initiative,€with€a€view€to€engagingŠ č 8  Šin€a€constructive€dialogue€with€the€Committee,€similar€to€that€conducted€with€several€otherŠ Ō$  Štreaty€bodies€in€the€past€two€years,€has€approached€the€Committee€in€order€to€coordinate€anŠ Ą  Šagreed€date€for€the€submission€and€consideration€of€its€periodic€reports€due.€Š¬ü (#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šIn€fact,€only€three€weeks€ago,€on€24„25€July,€a€professional€delegation€consisting€ofŠ „Ō  ŠeightIsraeli€experts,€headed€by€the€Permanent€Representative,€had€responded€in€great€detailŠ pĄ Što€another€treaty€body,€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€presenting€substantive€and€detailedŠ \¬ Šreasoning,€inter€alia,€for€the€above€temporary€legislation,€which€attests€to€the€legislationššsŠ H˜ Šcompliance€with€existing€international€law€and€practice.€€Israel€has€also€provided€statisticsŠ 4„ Šrelating€to€numerous€concrete€instances€where€the€granting€of€a€legal€status€to€PalestinianŠ  p Šspouses€of€Israeli€residents€has,€in€fact,€been€abused€by€Palestinian€residents€of€the€territoriesŠ  \ Šfor€suicide€terrorism.€€ŠųH(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šFurthermore,€this€matter€is€currently€still€being€reviewed€and€scrutinized€by€Israelššs€highestŠ Š  Šjudicial€instance,€the€Supreme€Court€sitting€as€High€Court€of€Justice,€and€the€domesticŠ ¼  Šinternal€proceedings€have€not€yet€been€exhausted.ŠØų(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šFollowing€an€informal€meeting€with€the€Secretary€of€the€CERD€CommitteeŠ €Š Šon28July2003,€Israel€informed€the€Chairperson€of€the€Committee,€in€a€letterŠ l¼ Šdated4August€2003,€that€it€is€in€the€final€stages€of€preparation€of€its€periodic€report,€andofŠ X Ø Šits€intention€to€submit€no€later€than€December€this€year€a€comprehensive€and€combinedŠ D!” Šperiodic€report,€in€addition€to€its€willingness€to€engage€in€a€constructive€dialogue€with€theŠ 0"€  ŠCommittee€as€soon€as€possible€afterwards.Š#l!(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šIn€light€of€the€above,€the€Committeeššs€decision€to€pre„empt€and€undermine€the€normalŠ ō$D # Šprocess€of€reporting,€cannot€be€seen€other€than€being€extremely€politicized€andŠ ą%0!$ Šcounterproductive,€casting€serious€doubts€on€the€Committeeššs€bona€fides€in€its€entireŠ Ģ&"% Štreatment€of€Israel.€€This€approach€is€even€more€striking€in€view€of€existing€similar€laws€andŠ ø'#& Špractices€in€several€other€States€parties€to€the€[Convention],€with€regard€to€which€theŠ ¤(ō#' ŠCommittee€has€not€chosen€to€invoke€any€similar€mode€of€action.Š)ą$((#(# ŠĢÓI7ÓÓ  Óš šYours€sincerely,Š h+ø&* Šš š[ņņSignedóó]:€€Yaakov€LevyŠ T,¤'+ Šš šAmbassadorššŠ @-(, ŠÓPHÓÓ8ÓĢą0  ąThe€following€reply€was€sent€by€the€Chairman€of€the€Committee€on€18€August€2003€to€theŠ œģ ŠPermanent€Representative€of€Israel€to€the€UnitedNations€Office€at€Geneva:ŠˆŲ(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šSir,Š`°(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šWith€reference€to€your€letter€of€14€August€2003,€I€have€the€honour€to€transmit€to€youŠ 8 ˆ Šherewith€decision€2€(63)€adopted€by€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€RacialŠ $ t ŠDiscrimination€at€its€1599th€meeting,€on€14€August€2003.Š `(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šAs€you€are€aware,€this€decision€was€adopted€by€the€Committee,€by€consensus,€in€theŠ č 8  Šexercise€of€its€responsibilities€under€its€urgent€action€procedure.€€In€this€connection,€I€wishŠ Ō$  Što€emphasize€that,€by€adopting€the€above„mentioned€decision,€the€Committee€in€no€wayŠ Ą  Šintended€ššto€pre„empt€and€underminešš€the€normal€process€of€reporting€as€alleged€in€yourŠ ¬ü  Šletter.€€The€Committee€remains€committed€to€its€task€of€monitoring€the€implementation€ofŠ ˜č  Šits€constituent€instrument,€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofŠ „Ō  ŠRacial€Discrimination.€€The€Committee€strongly€rejects€any€allegation€that,€in€doing€so,€it€didŠ pĄ Šnot€act€with€full€independence€and€impartiality€in€accordance€with€its€mandate.Š\¬(#(# ŠĢą0  ąš šAccept,€Sir,€the€assurances€of€my€highest€consideration.Š4„(#(# ŠĢÓņHÓÓ  Óš šSincerely,Š  \ Šš š[ņņSignedóó]:€€Ion€DiaconuŠ ųH Šš šChairman,€Committee€Š ä4 Šon€the€Elimination€of€RacialŠ Š  ŠDiscriminationššŠ ¼  ŠÓKOÓÓ<(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤°œX<ÓÓLÓĢĢ_____________Š €Š ŠĢ*/€€€See€paragraph€18€of€the€present€report,€subparagraph€B,€decisions€adopted€by€the€Committee€atŠ X Ø Šits€sixty„third€sessionŠ D!” ŠÓ‚PÓĢŠ  #l! ŠŌCEUK.,ŌÓ  ÓĢņ ņŌUK.,CE.,€QŌCERD€€A/59/18€(2004)Š œģ Šó óĢņņChapter€II.€€€Prevention€of€racial€discrimination,€including€early€warning€and€urgent€proceduresóóŠ tÄ ŠĢ...Š L œ Š17.€€The€following€sections€provide€the€text€of€the€decisions€adopted€by€the€Committee€under€theŠ 8 ˆ Šearly€warning€and€urgent€procedures€at€its€sixty„fifth€session:Š $ t Š...Š  ` ŠĢÓ’QÓÓ  ÓņņDecision€2€(65)Š č 8  ŠĢIsraelóóŠ Ą  ŠÓoSÓĢÓ  ÓThe€Committee€recalls€that€in€its€decision€1€(63),€it€called€for€the€revocation€by€Israel€of€itsŠ ˜č  ŠTemporary€Suspension€Order€of€May€2002,€enacted€into€law€as€the€Nationality€and€Entry€into€IsraelŠ „Ō  ŠLaw€(Temporary€Order)€on€31€July€2003,€which€suspended,€for€a€renewable€one-year€period,€theŠ pĄ Špossibility€of€family€reunification,€subject€to€limited€and€discretionary€exceptions,€in€cases€ofŠ \¬ Šmarriage€between€an€Israeli€citizen€and€a€person€residing€in€the€West€Bank€or€Gaza.€€The€CommitteeŠ H˜ Šhad€also€noted€with€concern€that€the€Suspension€Order€of€May€2002€already€adversely€affected€manyŠ 4„ Šfamilies€and€marriages,€and€that€the€Nationality€and€Entry€into€Israel€Law€(Temporary€Order)€of€31Š  p ŠJuly€2003€raised€serious€issues€under€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€FormsŠ  \ Šof€Racial€Discrimination.Š ųH ŠĢIn€view€of€the€renewal,€in€disregard€of€the€Committeeššs€request,€for€a€period€of€six€months€until€31Š Š  ŠDecember€2004€of€the€Temporary€Suspension€Order€of€May€2002,€enacted€into€law€as€theŠ ¼  ŠNationality€and€Entry€into€Israel€Law€(Temporary€Order)€on€31€July€2003,€the€Committee€reiteratesŠ Øų Šits€call€for€this€law€to€be€revoked.Š ”ä ŠĢBearing€in€mind€its€request,€in€decision€2€(63),€for€detailed€information€on€this€issue€in€the€nextŠ l¼ Šperiodic€report€submitted€by€Israel€and€the€failure€of€the€State€party€to€submit€its€tenth,€eleventh,Š X Ø Štwelfth€and€thirteenth€periodic€reports,€due€from€1998€to€2004;€and€in€accordance€with€article9,Š D!” Šparagraph1(b),€of€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€RacialŠ 0"€  ŠDiscrimination€and€with€reference,€in€particular,€to€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€CommitteeŠ #l! Šrequests€the€Government€of€Israel€to€send€it€a€report€urgently,€and€no€later€than31December€2004.Š $X" ŠĢ1671st€meetingŠ ą%0!$ Š20€August€2004Š Ģ&"% ŠÓŅSÓĢŠ  ¤(ō#' ŠĢŌUSUK.,ŌÓ  Óņ ņCERD,€CERD/C/SR.1760€(2006)ó óŠ œģ ŠĢĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌCOMMITTEE€ON€THE€ELIMINATION€OF€RACIAL€DISCRIMINATIONŠ `° ŠSixty„ninth€sessionŠ L œ ŠĢSUMMARY€RECORD€OF€THE€1760th€MEETINGŠ $ t ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌHeld€at€the€Palais€des€Nations,€Geneva,Š  ` ŠŌL  ŌŌM  Ōon€Monday,€31€July€2006,€at€10€a.m.Š ü L  ŠĢ...Š Ō$  ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌADOPTION€OF€THE€AGENDA€(item€1€of€the€provisional€agenda)€(CERD/C/69/1)Š ¬ü  ŠĢ...Š „Ō  ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  Ō23.€€The€CHAIRPERSONŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€invited€the€Committee€to€adopt€the€provisional€agenda€(documentŠ \¬ ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌCERD/C/69/1)€with€a€number€of€amendments.€€The€week€before,€the€Permanent€Mission€of€IsraelŠ H˜ Šhad€requested€the€postponement€of€the€consideration€of€its€tenth€to€thirteenth€periodic€reportsŠ 4„ Š(CERD/C/471/Add.2)ŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€After€consultation€with€the€relevant€country€rapporteur,€he€had€agreed€to€theŠ  p Špostponement€on€the€Committeeššs€behalfŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€The€programme€of€work€would€be€amended€accordinglyŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€Š  \ ŠThe€afternoon€of€Wednesday€2€August€would€be€used€for€a€meeting€of€the€working€group€on€earlyŠ ųH Šwarning€and€urgent€action€proceduresŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€The€next€morning,€Thursday€3€August,€the€Committee€wouldŠ ä4 Šdiscuss€follow„up€proceduresŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.Š Š  ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  Ō24.€€Mr.€AMIRŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€the€Committee€should€reach€a€democratic€decision€on€whether€it€wished€toŠ Øų Šdiscuss€Israelššs€periodic€reports€at€the€current€sessionŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€If€the€majority€of€members€were€willing€toŠ ”ä Špostpone€the€item,€he€would€accept€that€decision:€€if€not,€he€called€upon€the€Bureau€to€consider€waysŠ €Š Šin€which€the€reports€might€be€taken€up€at€the€current€sessionŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€They€might,€for€example,€be€discussedŠ l¼ Šin€the€absence€of€representatives€of€the€State€party,€or€dealt€with€under€the€emergency€procedure.Š X Ø ŠĢ...Š 0"€  ŠĢ27.€[THE€CHAIRMAN€said]€ŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌIsrael€had€submitted€its€request€to€postpone€consideration€of€its€reportsŠ $X" Šon€26€July,€just€five€days€before€the€start€of€the€session.€€It€would€have€been€difficult€to€refuse€theŠ ō$D # Šrequest,€given€the€current€situation€in€the€Middle€EastŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€As€the€matter€was€clearly€urgent€he€hadŠ ą%0!$ Šreplied€the€same€day,€noting€Israelššs€request€and€asking€its€Government€to€attend€the€next€sessionŠ Ģ&"% Šof€the€Committee€for€consideration€of€its€periodic€reportsŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€He€had€further€asked€the€Government€toŠ ø'#& Šsubmit,€by€the€end€of€2006,€its€replies€to€a€questionnaire€sent€to€it€by€the€Office€of€the€HighŠ ¤(ō#' ŠCommissioner,€so€that€they€could€be€considered€at€the€March€2007€session€alongside€the€periodicŠ )ą$( ŠreportsŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€He€realized€that€postponement€at€such€a€late€stage€was€very€inconvenient,€particularly€forŠ |*Ģ%) Šthe€non„governmental€organizations€which€had€arranged€to€attend€the€session€for€that€itemŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€Š h+ø&* ŠHowever,€it€was€important€for€representatives€of€the€State€party€to€be€present€during€the€discussionŠ T,¤'+ Šif€at€all€possible.Š @-(, Š‡Ģ28.€€ŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌMr.€THORNBERRYŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€(Rapporteur)€said€that€the€decision€to€postpone€consideration€of€IsraelššsŠ œģ Šreports€had€been€the€most€practical€option€in€the€circumstancesŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€It€did€not€preclude€discussion€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šsituation€in€the€Middle€East€under€other€proceduresŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€Š tÄ ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌĢ29.€€One€member€had€asked€to€be€updated€about€relevant€developments€in€the€United€Nations€systemŠ L œ Šas€a€whole:€€the€Secretariat€might€do€that€by€notifying€the€Committee€of€any€relevant€press€releasesŠ 8 ˆ Šissued€by€the€Secretary„General€or€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner.Š $ t ŠĢ30.€€Mr.€LINDGREN€ALVESŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€the€crisis€in€Lebanon€was€the€most€crucial€situation€in€theŠ ü L  Šworld€todayŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€The€Committee€should€discuss€it€urgently€and€make€its€views€known.Š č 8  ŠĢ31.€€The€CHAIRPERSONŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€invited€the€Committee€to€adopt€the€provisional€agenda€(CERD/C/69/1),Š Ą  Šas€orally€amended.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ32.€€The€agenda,€as€orally€amended,€was€adoptedŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.Š „Ō  ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌņņThe€meeting€was€suspended€at€11.40€a.m.€and€resumed€at€1€p.m.óóŠ \¬ ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  Ō33.€€The€CHAIRPERSONŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€suggested€that,€in€the€light€of€the€concerns€expressed€earlier€by€members,Š 4„ Šthe€morning€of€Thursday€3€August€should€be€devoted€to€a€general€debate€on€the€humanitarian€crisisŠ  p Šin€Lebanon,€followed€by€a€brief€report€by€Mr.€Kjaerum€on€follow„up€procedures.€Š  \ ŠĢ34.€€It€was€so€decidedŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.ŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŠ ä4 ŠŠ  Š  ŠĢņ ņCERD,€CERD/C/SR.1763€(2006)ó óŠ œģ ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌCOMMITTEE€ON€THE€ELIMINATION€OF€RACIAL€DISCRIMINATIONŠ tÄ ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌSixty„ninth€sessionŠ `° ŠSUMMARY€RECORD€OF€THE€1763rd€MEETINGŠ L œ ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌHeld€at€the€Palais€des€Nations,€Geneva,Š 8 ˆ ŠŌL  ŌŌM  Ōon€Thursday,€3€August€2006,€at€10€a.m.Š $ t ŠĢ...Š ü L  ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌGENERAL€DEBATE€ON€THE€SITUATION€IN€LEBANONŠ Ō$  ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌĢ1.€€The€CHAIRPERSONŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€recalled€that€although€the€Committee€had€agreed€to€defer€its€considerationŠ ¬ü  Šof€the€thirteenth€periodic€report€of€Israel€until€its€seventieth€session,€as€a€human€rights€body€it€hadŠ ˜č  Šfelt€it€necessary€and€appropriate€to€discuss€the€current€situation€in€Lebanon€in€the€light€of€theŠ „Ō  ŠConvention.Š pĄ ŠĢ2.€€Mr.€AMIRŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€the€situation€in€Lebanon€was€of€great€concern€to€the€Committee,€other€organs€ofŠ H˜ Šthe€United€Nations€and€international€public€opinion.€€He€recalled€that€international€humanitarian€lawŠ 4„ Šhad€developed€following€the€Second€World€War€as€a€result€of€the€recognition€by€the€internationalŠ  p Šcommunity€of€the€need€to€protect€civilian€populations€and€refugees€in€conflict€situations.€€DiscussionŠ  \ Šof€the€humanitarian€issues€involved€in€the€current€situation€in€Lebanon€was€perfectly€in€keeping€withŠ ųH Šthe€mandate€of€the€Committee.Š ä4 ŠĢ3.€€The€civilian€population€in€Lebanon€were€the€innocent€victims€of€a€situation€which€was€not€of€theirŠ ¼  Šchoosing.€€The€number€of€victims,€including€women€and€children,€continued€to€grow.€€The€guiltyŠ Øų Šparty€in€the€event€was€a€State€which,€despite€being€a€party€to€the€Convention€and€other€internationalŠ ”ä Šhuman€rights€instruments€and€despite€its€duty€to€spare€civilian€populations,€continued€to€inflict€deathŠ €Š Šand€suffering€on€those€populations€because€of€their€alleged€affiliation€with€or€proximity€to€the€otherŠ l¼ Šparty€to€the€conflict.€€He€recalled€that€in€a€similar€situation,€in€his€capacity€of€Country€Rapporteur,Š X Ø Šhe€had€succeeded€in€prevailing€on€the€Government€of€Senegal€to€stop€bombing€civilian€targets€in€theŠ D!” ŠCasamance€region.Š 0"€  ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  Ō4.€€The€Security€Council,€the€Secretary„General,€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€HumanŠ $X" ŠRights€and€others€had€expressed€their€grave€concern€at€the€situation€in€Lebanon€and€the€CommitteeŠ ō$D # Šmust€likewise€speak€out€to€call€on€those€responsible€to€fulfil€their€duty€to€protect€the€innocent.€€HeŠ ą%0!$ Štherefore€proposed€that€the€Committee€adopt€a€decision€reminding€States,€whether€they€were€partiesŠ Ģ&"% Što€the€Convention€or€not,€to€fulfil€their€duty€to€protect€non„combatants.€€If€the€Committee€failed€toŠ ø'#& Šdo€so,€if€it€failed€to€follow€the€example€of€organizations€like€the€United€Nations€Childrenššs€FundŠ ¤(ō#' Š(UNICEF),€which€had€clearly€pointed€the€finger€of€blame€at€those€responsible€for€harming€innocentŠ )ą$( Šchildren,€it€would€encourage€other€States€to€also€ignore€their€duty€to€respect€and€protect€civilianŠ |*Ģ%) Špopulations,€on€the€pretext,€for€example,€that€combatants€were€hiding€among€them.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ5.€€Mr.€AVTONOMOVŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€agreed€with€Mr.€Amir€that€the€situation€in€Lebanon€was€catastrophic€andŠ @-(, Šcertainly€fell€within€the€mandate€of€the€Committee.€€Targeting€the€civilian€population€must€stop€andŠ ° Šhe€stressed€that€the€international€community€could€not€stand€idly€by€while€civilians,€includingŠ œģ Šwomen€and€children,€continued€to€be€traumatized€and€civilian€infrastructures€were€destroyed.Š ˆŲ ŠŌL  ŌŌM  ŌĢ6.€€ŌL  ŌŌM  ŌThe€Committee€had€a€duty€to€take€up€the€issue€of€the€need€to€protect€human€rights€evenin€conflictŠ `° Šsituations.€€It€was€important€to€express€its€grave€concern€and€condemn€actions€which€had€aŠ L œ Šdevastating€effect€on€the€civilian€population€and€would€also€affect€future€ŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  Ōgenerations.€€Although€heŠ 8 ˆ Šrecognized€the€difficulty€of€ensuring€minimal€human€rights€guarantees€in€conflict€situations,€failureŠ $ t Što€deal€with€the€current€situation€could€have€serious€consequences€for€the€region,€exacerbate€anŠ  ` Šalready€difficult€situation€and€seriously€affect€the€peace€process€in€the€Middle€East.Š ü L  ŠĢ7.€€Mr.€TANGŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€associated€himself€with€the€statements€made€by€Mr.€Amir€and€Mr.€Avtonomov.€Š Ō$  ŠIsraeli€attacks€against€the€civilian€population€were€violations€of€international€law€and€internationalŠ Ą  Šhumanitarian€law€and€of€the€principle€of€national€sovereignty;€its€attack€on€United€NationsŠ ¬ü  Špeacekeepers,€in€which€one€Chinese€citizen€had€died,€was€a€violation€of€the€Charter€of€the€UnitedŠ ˜č  ŠNations,€which€Israel,€as€a€member€State,€should€uphold.Š „Ō  ŠĢ8.€€No€country€had€the€right€to€attack€the€civilian€population€of€another€State;€that€was€tantamountŠ \¬ Što€an€act€of€racial€discrimination€and€it€was€perfectly€appropriate€for€the€Committee€to€discuss€theŠ H˜ Šmatter.€€The€international€community€had€a€responsibility€to€ensure€that€international€norms€wereŠ 4„ Šrespected€and€that€both€parties€ceased€hostilities.€€The€Security€Council€and€the€High€CommissionerŠ  p Šfor€Human€Rights€had€already€expressed€their€grave€concern€and€were€continuing€to€work€for€aŠ  \ Šsolution€to€the€crisis.€€He€agreed€that€the€Committee€should€adopt€a€decision€condemning€violenceŠ ųH Šagainst€civilian€populations€and€clearly€calling€for€an€end€to€the€hostilities.Š ä4 ŠĢ9.€€Mr.€KJAERUMŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€the€situation€in€Lebanon€was€a€source€of€concern€for€the€internationalŠ ¼  Šcommunity€as€a€whole.€€The€Secretary„General€had€repeatedly€called€on€all€parties€to€cease€hostilitiesŠ Øų Šwithout€delay€and€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€had€called€for€an€independentŠ ”ä Šinvestigation€of€allegations€of€violations€of€international€human€rights€and€international€humanitarianŠ €Š Šlaw.€€The€issue€of€whether€or€not€the€situation€in€Lebanon€fell€within€the€mandate€of€the€CommitteeŠ l¼ Šwas€related€to€the€applicability€of€the€Convention€and€the€extraterritorial€applicability€of€internationalŠ X Ø Šhuman€rights€instruments.Š D!” ŠĢ10.€€He€noted€that€both€Israel€and€Lebanon€had€ratified€the€Convention€and€were€therefore€bound€byŠ #l! Šits€provisions.€€Furthermore,€the€International€Court€of€Justice€had€ruled€that€human€rightsŠ $X" Šinstruments€did€not€cease€to€apply€in€times€of€armed€conflict,€although€in€some€circumstances€thereŠ ō$D # Šcould€be€derogation€of€certain€rights.€€In€that€context€and€recalling€also€general€comment€No.€31€ofŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€Human€Rights€Committee,€he€said€that€no€such€derogations€applied€to€the€current€crisis,€so€thatŠ Ģ&"% Šthe€Convention€and€other€instruments€continued€to€apply€to€the€actions€of€Israel€and€Lebanon€withinŠ ø'#& Šand€possibly€outside€their€territories.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢ11.€€According€to€the€International€Court€of€Justice,€human€rights€instruments€ratified€by€a€State€wereŠ |*Ģ%) Šapplicable€outside€the€territory€of€that€State€when€it€had€jurisdiction€over€that€foreign€territory.€€TheŠ h+ø&* Štest€was€whether€or€not€the€State€in€question€had€de€facto€control€over€the€territory;€if€so,€the€StateŠ T,¤'+ Šwas€obliged€to€comply€with€the€provisions€of€international€human€rights€instruments€it€had€ratifiedŠ @-(, Šin€those€foreign€territories.€€That€issue€would€have€to€be€decided€by€an€independent€investigation€ofŠ ° Šthe€facts€in€Lebanon.€€Clearly,€however,€both€Israel€and€Lebanon€must€meet€their€treaty€obligationsŠ œģ Šwithin€their€own€territories€and,€for€example,€in€no€way€discriminate€with€regard€to€relief€orŠ ˆŲ Šassistance€efforts€for€the€affected€populations.Š tÄ ŠĢ12.€€He€believed€the€Committee€did€not€have€an€obvious€mandate€with€regard€to€the€current€situationŠ L œ Šin€Lebanon.€€The€Chairperson€should€however€convey€the€spirit€of€the€Committeeššs€discussion€toŠ 8 ˆ Šthe€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€for€her€Office€to€undertake€appropriate€action€toŠ $ t Šinvestigate€the€human€rights€situation€of€the€civilian€populations€affected€by€the€armed€conflict.Š  ` ŠĢ13.€€Mr.€LINDGREN€ALVESŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€recalled€that€he€had€been€in€favour€not€of€a€general€debate€but€ratherŠ č 8  Šof€considering€the€situation€in€Lebanon€under€the€Committeeššs€urgent€procedure,€which€the€crisisŠ Ō$  Šfully€warranted.€€However,€the€debate€would€serve€its€purpose€as€it€was€the€obligation€of€allŠ Ą  Šinternational€bodies€to€address€the€most€blatant€cases€of€violence€and€aggression€in€the€world.€€TheŠ ¬ü  Šcurrent€situation€could€be€compared€to€that€which€had€existed€several€decades€previously€in€theŠ ˜č  ŠMiddle€East,€when€the€United€Nations€had€been€prompted€to€deal€with€the€violation€of€human€rightsŠ „Ō  Šby€Israel€against€Palestine€and€Lebanon.Š pĄ ŠĢ14.€€All€international€positions€referred€to€the€need€to€respect€the€principle€of€proportionality€inŠ H˜ Šmilitary€operations.€€It€could€be€acknowledged€that€Israel€had€the€right€to€self„defence,€but€it€mustŠ 4„ Šdo€so€in€a€proportionate€manner,€not€as€was€currently€the€case.€€As€to€whether€the€plight€of€LebanonŠ  p Šrelated€to€the€Convention,€he€considered€that€it€did,€given€the€barbarity€of€the€situation€as€witnessedŠ  \ Šby€the€targeting€of€women€and€children.€€In€the€absence€of€concrete€facts€regarding€a€possibleŠ ųH Šconnection€with€the€Convention,€the€logical€reasoning€was€that€there€was€a€tinge€of€racismŠ ä4 Šstimulating€the€disproportionality€of€Israelššs€reaction€to€the€kidnapping€at€the€origin€of€the€conflict.€Š Š  ŠThe€Committee€must€decide€whether€it€believed€Israel€would€have€responded€as€extremely€had€theŠ ¼  Šcountry€in€question€not€been€Arab.€€If€the€Committee€decided€that€there€was€a€racist€motivation€forŠ Øų Šthe€disproportionate€response,€it€must€condemn€the€actions,€although€he€was€unsure€as€to€the€bestŠ ”ä Šway€of€doing€so.€€The€urgent€procedures€had€been€used€in€the€past€to€send€messages€to€GovernmentsŠ €Š Šabout€non„urgent€matters,€and€it€was€clear€that€the€situation€in€question€was€of€the€utmost€urgency.Š l¼ ŠĢ15.€€Mr.€SHAHIŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€agreed€that€there€was€clear€disproportionality€in€the€exercise€of€whatever€right€toŠ D!” Šself„defence€was€conceded€to€Israel,€and€he€supported€Mr.€Lindgren€Alvesšš€point€that€Israel€wouldŠ 0"€  Šnot€have€resorted€to€such€indiscriminate€bombardments€if€it€were€fighting€a€non-Arab€country.€€HeŠ #l! Šacknowledged€that€Hizbollah€had€instigated€events€by€kidnapping€Israeli€soldiers,€but€the€right€ofŠ $X" Šresistance€against€occupation€by€powerful€countries€was€never€mentioned.€€As€far€as€the€applicabilityŠ ō$D # Šof€the€Convention€was€concerned,€it€was€clear€that€it€was€a€case€of€war€between€two€different€ethnicŠ ą%0!$ Šgroups.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ16.€€As€to€the€competence€of€the€Committee€in€the€matter,€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€RightsŠ ¤(ō#' Šhad€given€the€lead€by€speaking€of€war€crimes,€crimes€against€humanity€and€the€deterioratingŠ )ą$( Šhumanitarian€situation.€€If€the€Committee€itself€was€not€prepared€to€take€a€position,€it€should€supportŠ |*Ģ%) Šthe€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€in€calling€for€a€ceasefire€and€immediate€dialogue.€Š h+ø&* ŠHumanitarian€concerns€and€the€duty€to€uphold€the€principles€of€the€United€Nations€Charter€mustŠ T,¤'+ Šguide€the€Committee€and€the€other€United€Nations€bodies€and€should€not€be€subordinated€to€theŠ @-(, Šgeopolitics€of€major€powers.Š ° ŠĢ17.€€Mr.€THORNBERRYŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€the€Committee€had€often€dealt€with€very€serious€situations,€andŠ ˆŲ Šconflicts€as€such€had€not€ruled€out€the€interest€and€concern€of€the€Committee.€€In€that€regard€he€notedŠ tÄ Šthe€Committeeššs€statement€of€10€March€2003€on€š šthe€current€international€situationšš.€€The€currentŠ `° Šconflict€had€seen€denials€of€the€most€basic€human€right:€€the€right€to€life.€€Regarding€the€CommitteeššsŠ L œ Šmandate,€one€possible€way€forward€might€have€been€for€States€to€report€to€the€Committee€so€thatŠ 8 ˆ Šit€could€have€explored€details€and€come€to€firm€conclusions,€but,€in€a€crisis€situation,€that€might€haveŠ $ t Šbeen€of€little€comfort€to€those€involved€in€the€tragedy.Š  ` ŠĢ18.€€One€of€the€foreseeable€consequences€of€the€conflict€was€the€escalation€of€racial,€ethnic€andŠ č 8  Šreligious€hatred.€€Such€patterns€of€escalating€hatred€were€always€the€concern€of€the€Committee,Š Ō$  Šregardless€of€the€context.€€Unresolved€situations€and€armed€conflicts€produced€new€forms€of€racialŠ Ą  Šdiscrimination,€and€the€conflict€in€Lebanon€would€doubtless€generate€discriminatory€attitudes€andŠ ¬ü  Špractices€and€new€hatreds.€€The€Committee€would,€in€time,€inevitably€come€to€address€discriminationŠ ˜č  Šthat€could€be€traced€back€to€an€event€such€as€the€current€conflict.€€The€Committeeššs€duty€was€notŠ „Ō  Šexhausted€by€regretting€and€warning;€it€should€also€attend€to€the€details€of€what€needed€to€be€doneŠ pĄ Šby€all€actors€in€the€light€of€the€principles€of€the€Convention.€€The€Committeeššs€mandate€as€a€humanŠ \¬ Šrights€body€was€to€add€its€voice€to€that€of€others€who€were€clamouring€for€peace.Š H˜ ŠĢ19.€€Ms.€JANUARY„BARDILLŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€the€bombing€in€the€current€conflict€had€been€anything€butŠ  p Šsmart.€€The€fact€that€the€carnage€of€the€civilian€population€had€not€been€stopped€on€the€basis€of€theŠ  \ Šargument€that€every€peace€should€be€based€on€enduring€principles€and€that€such€a€quick€ceasefireŠ ųH Šwould€be€no€more€than€a€quick€fix€demonstrated€how€little€value€was€placed€on€human€life€in€thatŠ ä4 Šregion.€€She€tended€to€agree€with€Mr.€Lindgren€Alves€that€institutional€racism€existed€in€that€part€ofŠ Š  Šthe€world:€€people€allowed€themselves€to€kill€in€that€way€only€when€they€had€inferiorized€the€enemy.€Š ¼  ŠThe€killing€of€civilians€on€such€a€scale€could€not€be€justified€by€any€security€concerns.€€The€threatŠ Øų Šof€a€regional€war€was€becoming€an€increasing€reality.€€The€United€Nations€Security€Council€mustŠ ”ä Šaccept€its€responsibilities€and€condemn€Israelššs€action,€which€was€contrary€to€all€Š €Š Šinternational€law,€and€demand€an€immediate€ceasefire€followed€by€negotiations.Š l¼ ŠĢ20.€€Mr.€YUTZISŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€recalled€the€words€of€the€philosopher€Emmanuel€Levinas,€who€held€that€humanŠ D!” Šrights€began€with€the€commandment€š šthou€shalt€not€killšš.€€The€civilians€caught€up€in€the€conflictŠ 0"€  Šwere€suffering€the€consequences€of€a€historical€condition€which€was€not€of€their€choosing.€€He€notedŠ #l! Šthat€article€11€of€the€Convention€was€never€applied.€€In€any€case,€as€a€treaty€body,€the€CommitteeŠ $X" Šmust€do€something€to€draw€attention€to€those€events€and€add€its€voice€to€that€of€others.€€HeŠ ō$D # Šacknowledged€that€there€was€a€very€fine€line€when€attempts€were€made€to€differentiate€betweenŠ ą%0!$ Šhumanitarian€law€and€political€conditions.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ21.€€Ms.€DAHŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€agreed€that€the€distinction€between€politics,€humanitarian€assistance€and€human€rightsŠ ¤(ō#' Šwas€very€vague.€€The€consensus€appeared€to€be€that€it€would€be€improper€for€the€Committee€not€toŠ )ą$( Šmake€its€voice€heard€at€such€a€crucial€time.€€As€a€member€of€a€Committee€which€worked€to€combatŠ |*Ģ%) Šall€forms€of€discrimination,€she€regretted€that€the€bombs€in€Lebanon€had€been€indiscriminate,€killingŠ h+ø&* Šcivilians,€including€children.€€The€Committee€should€call€on€more€authoritative€and€capable€bodiesŠ T,¤'+ Što€call€for€a€ceasefire,€namely€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€and€the€newŠ @-(, ŠHuman€Rights€Council,€as€there€was€still€some€doubt€regarding€the€competence€of€the€CommitteeŠ ° Šin€that€particular€situation.€€Although€there€might€be€racial€motives€behind€the€conflict,€there€wasŠ œģ Šinsufficient€evidence€to€support€that€argument.€€The€conflict€would€solve€nothing,€but€would€simplyŠ ˆŲ Šexacerbate€the€existing€hatred€and€develop€other€forms.€€When€considering€the€reports€of€Israel€andŠ tÄ ŠLebanon€in€the€future,€the€Committee€would€have€to€assess€the€extent€to€which€the€conflict€hadŠ `° Šcreated€or€reinforced€discrimination;€in€that€way€the€current€situation€could€be€connected€to€theŠ L œ ŠCommitteeššs€mandate.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ22.€€Mr.€EWOMSANŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€the€diverging€opinions€underlying€all€armed€conflicts€invariably€ledŠ  ` Što€discrimination€and€hatred.€€The€situation€in€Lebanon€could€therefore€not€be€met€with€indifferenceŠ ü L  Šand€members€had€a€duty€to€speak€out€in€their€capacity€as€human€beings.€€However,€the€CommitteeŠ č 8  Šhad€a€clearly€defined€mandate€and€must€be€mindful€of€the€responsibilities€and€limits€set€forth€in€theŠ Ō$  ŠConvention.€€Impartiality€was€crucial€to€the€discharge€of€that€mandate.€€The€Committee€would€beŠ Ą  Šexamining€Israelššs€periodic€report€within€a€few€months€and€should€avoid€taking€any€action€that€couldŠ ¬ü  Šbe€interpreted€as€compromising€its€objectivity.€€Instead,€it€should€call€on€more€competent€institutionsŠ ˜č  Šthat€could€identify€steps€to€be€taken€towards€a€ceasefire€agreement€and€guarantee€respect€for€humanŠ „Ō  Šrights.Š pĄ ŠĢ23.€€Mr.€ABOUL„NASRŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€the€Committee€must€not€remain€silent€regarding€the€seriousŠ H˜ Šviolations€of€human€rights€in€Lebanon.€€Acting€upon€the€Secretary„Generalššs€call€to€condemn€suchŠ 4„ Šaction€š šin€the€strongest€possible€termsšš,€it€should€issue€a€statement€that€reflected€the€spirit€of€thoseŠ  p Šwords€and€called€for€an€immediate€cessation€of€the€killing.Š  \ ŠĢ24.€€Mr.€BOYDŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€there€was€no€obvious€link€between€the€humanitarian€crisis€in€Lebanon€andŠ ä4 Šthe€Convention.€€While€he€agreed€that€it€was€important€to€speak€out,€the€Committee€should€thereforeŠ Š  Šexercise€extreme€caution.€€Should€it€choose€to€issue€a€statement€that€went€beyond€the€limits€of€itsŠ ¼  Šmandate,€it€should€be€made€clear€that€the€text€reflected€membersšš€personal€views€as€concernedŠ Øų Šhuman€beings€and€not€as€members€of€the€Committee.Š ”ä ŠĢ25.€€Doubtlessly,€all€persons€living€in€the€conflict€zone€had€a€right€to€security€of€person€andŠ l¼ Šprotection€by€the€State€against€violence€or€bodily€harm,€as€specified€in€article€5€of€the€Convention.€Š X Ø ŠThe€Committee€had€referred€to€those€rights€on€earlier€occasions€when€commenting€on€the€situationŠ D!” Šin€Darfur€or€Rwanda,€amongst€others,€where€peoplesšš€article„5€rights€had€been€compromised€by€theŠ 0"€  Švery€authorities€responsible€for€protecting€them.€€However,€the€situation€in€Lebanon€was€somewhatŠ #l! Šdifferent,€given€that€the€physical€integrity€of€Lebanese€civilians€was€being€endangered€by€outsideŠ $X" Šactors.Š ō$D # ŠĢ26.€€He€had€been€surprised€to€note€that,€during€the€Committeeššs€dialogue,€little€reference€had€beenŠ Ģ&"% Šmade€to€those€who€used€Lebanon€as€a€base€to€attack€the€population€of€another€country.€€CertainŠ ø'#& Šmembers,€in€particular€Mr.€Lindgren€Alves,€appeared€to€downplay€the€role€of€that€group€in€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šcurrent€conflict.€€Its€responsibility€could€not€be€reduced€to€the€capture€of€the€two€Israeli€soldiers,Š )ą$( Šwhen€in€reality€it€had€launched€hundreds€of€missiles€against€a€foreign€civilian€population.€€It€wasŠ |*Ģ%) Šunreasonable€to€interpret€such€actions€as€resistance€to€an€occupying€force,€since€Israel€had€not€beenŠ h+ø&* Šoccupying€Lebanese€territory€at€the€time€the€current€conflict€had€erupted.€€Similarly,€the€actions€ofŠ T,¤'+ Šthe€other€party€to€the€conflict,€such€as€the€bombing€of€sites€with€military€significance€that€invariablyŠ @-(, Šresulted€in€the€killing€of€Lebanese€civilians,€had€devastating€consequences€and€must€be€condemned.€Š ° ŠThe€third€parties€responsible€for€the€current€tragedy€were€those€States€parties€to€the€Convention€thatŠ œģ Šprovided€material€support€and€refuge€to€combatants€and€supported€their€activities€inside€Lebanon.€Š ˆŲ ŠAnd€yet€the€civilian€populations,€who€played€no€active€role€in€the€multidimensional€conflict€in€theŠ tÄ ŠMiddle€East,€were€those€who€suffered€its€terrible€consequences.Š `° ŠĢ27.€€The€question€of€a€possible€nexus€between€the€Convention€and€the€situation€in€Lebanon€remainedŠ 8 ˆ Šopen.€€Thus€far,€there€was€no€evidence€suggesting€that€Israel€targeted€civilians€intentionally;€suchŠ $ t Šaction€would€serve€no€military€purpose€and€would€be€politically€counterproductive.€€The€other€partyŠ  ` Što€the€conflict,€however,€had€never€denied€its€intention€to€target€civilians.€€It€would€be€similarly€far„Š ü L  Šfetched€to€suggest€that€Israelššs€actions€had€underlying€racist€or€discriminatory€motives.€€The€mostŠ č 8  Šlikely€explanation€for€what€some€viewed€as€a€disproportionate€response€on€Israelššs€part€wasŠ Ō$  ŠLebanonššs€geographical€proximity,€rather€than€the€ethnic€or€religious€characteristics€of€itsŠ Ą  Špopulation.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ28.€€Should€the€Committee€decide€to€issue€a€statement,€it€should€speak€out€against€all€causes€ofŠ „Ō  Šsuffering€in€order€to€be€credible€and€attain€its€objective,€namely€ending€the€violence.Š pĄ ŠĢ29.€€Mr.€PILLAIŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that,€in€principle,€he€believed€that€the€Committee€should€remain€within€theŠ H˜ Šlimits€of€its€clearly€defined€mandate€and€engage€in€dialogue€on€issues€directly€related€to€theŠ 4„ ŠConvention€only.€€However,€in€the€light€of€the€comments€made€by€other€members,€he€felt€compelledŠ  p Što€share€his€views.Š  \ ŠĢ30.€€In€a€recent€statement,€the€Prime€Minister€of€Lebanon€had€pointed€out€that€both€parties€to€theŠ ä4 Šconflict€inflicted€tremendous€suffering€on€the€country€and€its€people,€albeit€in€differing€degrees.€€NoŠ Š  Šimmediate€end€to€that€suffering€appeared€to€be€in€sight.€€In€view€of€the€humanitarian€tragedyŠ ¼  Šunfolding€in€Lebanon,€he€felt€tremendous€pain€and€a€great€sense€of€loss.€€When€the€Committee€hadŠ Øų Šconsidered€Lebanonššs€report€some€years€back,€he€had€been€impressed€with€the€democratic€values€andŠ ”ä Šthe€nature€of€the€society€the€country€aspired€to€build.€€The€international€community€must€thereforeŠ €Š Šdo€its€utmost€to€end€the€violence.Š l¼ ŠĢ31.€€The€situation€in€Lebanon€did€not€result€from€racial€discrimination€and€the€violations€went€wellŠ D!” Šbeyond€the€narrow€scope€of€the€Convention.€€However,€the€Committee€was€free€to€express€itsŠ 0"€  Šprofound€sorrow€over€the€loss€of€lives€and€the€suffering€of€civilians€on€either€side€of€the€border.€€HeŠ #l! Šthought€it€well€advised€for€the€Committee€to€express€its€solidarity€with€the€Office€of€the€UnitedŠ $X" ŠNations€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€and€with€all€action€taken€by€United€NationsŠ ō$D # Šmechanisms€to€stop€the€violence€and€destruction,€assist€the€many€displaced€persons,€and€helpŠ ą%0!$ Šreconstruct€the€shattered€Lebanese€economy.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ32.€€Mr.€LINDGREN€ALVESŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€he€was€surprised€that,€after€his€many€years€of€service€as€aŠ ¤(ō#' Šmember€of€the€Committee,€his€intolerance€of€terrorist€organizations€and€of€violence€targetingŠ )ą$( Šcivilians€was€not€taken€for€granted.€€He€had€never€made€a€secret€of€those€views€and€had€thus€notŠ |*Ģ%) Šdeemed€it€necessary€to€expressly€condemn€the€actions€of€Hizbollah.€€He€would€never€condoneŠ h+ø&* Šattacks€against€civilians€by€Hizbollah€or€similar€organizations,€whatever€their€purported€cause.€Š T,¤'+ ŠHowever,€it€was€his€own€personal€belief€that€Israelššs€actions€only€bred€further€violence€and€Ō_ŌterrorismŠ @-(, Šthroughout€the€world.€€It€was€important€for€the€Committee€to€take€a€stand€and€he€wondered€whetherŠ ° ŠMr.€Ō_ŌThornberryŌ_Ō€might€agree€to€prepare€a€relevant€draft.Š œģ ŠĢ33.€€Mr.€CALI€Ō_ŌTSAYŌ_ŌŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€said€that€the€Committeeššs€mandate€was€not€limited€to€condemning€racist€orŠ tÄ Šdiscriminatory€acts,€but€also€included€taking€preventive€action.€€While€he€did€not€consider€himselfŠ `° Šcompetent€to€give€his€opinion€on€the€situation€in€the€Middle€East,€he€had€first-hand€experience€ofŠ L œ Šarmed€conflict€and€was€keenly€aware€of€the€hatred,€pain€and€resentment€caused€by€war.€€InŠ 8 ˆ ŠGuatemala,€the€United€Nations€had€played€a€key€role€in€ending€the€violence,€disappearances€andŠ $ t Šmassacre€of€civilians.€€In€order€to€avoid€the€violence€in€Lebanon€Ō_ŌspirallingŌ_Ō€into€genocide,€the€UnitedŠ  ` ŠNations€must€once€against€assume€its€role€as€a€mediator€in€efforts€to€prevent€civilian€casualties.Š ü L  ŠĢ34.€€Mr.€Ō_ŌABOULŌ_Ō„Ō_ŌNASRŌ_ŌŌL  ŌŌM  Ō€endorsed€the€statement€by€Mr.€Cali€Ō_ŌTsayŌ_Ō.€€However,€he€strongly€disagreedŠ Ō$  Šwith€those€who€referred€to€Ō_ŌHizbollahŌ_Ō€as€a€terrorist€organization.€€Ō_ŌHizbollahŌ_Ō€was€a€movement€ofŠ Ą  Šresistance€against€the€occupation€of€part€of€its€land,€similar€to€the€French€resistance€during€theŠ ¬ü  ŠSecond€World€War.Š ˜č  ŠĢ35.€€The€CHAIRPERSONŌL  ŌŌM  Ō,€summarizing€the€debate,€said€that€all€members€had€expressed€theirŠ pĄ Šanguish€over€the€human€suffering€in€Lebanon.€€While€some€had€focused€on€legal€issues,€others€hadŠ \¬ Šspoken€about€the€human€dimension€of€the€conflict.€€All€contributions€had€reflected€a€strongŠ H˜ Šcommitment€to€the€protection€of€human€rights.€€It€had€transpired€from€the€discussion€that€there€wasŠ 4„ Šno€clear€line€separating€politics,€humanitarian€issues€and€human€rights.€€Several€members€hadŠ  p Šmentioned€the€causal€link€between€armed€conflict€and€phenomena€such€as€racial€hatred€and€evenŠ  \ Šterrorism.€€Members€had€further€conveyed€that,€beyond€the€limits€of€the€Committeeššs€mandate€underŠ ųH Šthe€Convention,€they€felt€a€responsibility€to€speak€out€in€their€capacity€as€members€of€the€humanŠ ä4 Šrights€community€and€as€human€beings.Š Š  ŠĢ36.€€He€suggested€that€the€Bureau€should€convene€at€2€p.m.€on€Thursday,€3€August€2006,€to€discussŠ Øų Ša€follow„up€to€the€debate€and€examine€the€modalities€for€bringing€the€issue€to€the€attention€of€theŠ ”ä Šcompetent€institutions.€€It€might€also€be€useful€to€transmit€the€summary€records€of€the€CommitteeššsŠ €Š Šdialogue€to€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€and€the€Human€RightsŠ l¼ ŠCouncil.Š X Ø ŠĢ37.€€It€was€so€decidedŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.Š 0"€  ŠŌUK.,US.,€\Ō...Š #l! ŠĢĢŠ  ą%0!$ ŠŌUSUK.,ŌĢņ ņŌ_ŌCERDŌ_Ō,€A/61/18€(2006)ó óŠ œģ ŠĢ...Š tÄ ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŌL  ŌŌM  ŌCHAPTER€VII.€€GENERAL€DEBATES€AND€STATEMENTSŠ L œ ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  Ō...Š $ t ŠĢ491.€€On€3€August€2006,€at€its€1763rd€meeting€(see€Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/SR.1763),€the€Committee€held€aŠ ü L  Šgeneral€debate€on€the€situation€in€LebanonŌL  ŌŌM  Ō.€€ŌL  ŌŌM  ŌOn€11€August€2006,€at€its€1776th€meeting,€it€adoptedŠ č 8  Šthe€following€statementŌL  ŌŌM  Ō:ŌL  ŌŌM  ŌŠ Ō$  ŠĢą0  ąš šThe€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination,Š¬ü (#(# ŠĢŌL  ŌŌM  Ōą0  ąHaving€held€a€debate€on€the€situation€in€Lebanon€on€3€August€2006,Š„Ō (#(# ŠĢą0  ąDeeply€concerned€that€the€continuation€of€the€conflict€may€intensify€racial€discrimination€andŠ \¬ Šhatred€in€the€region€and€in€the€wider€world,ŠH˜(#(# ŠĢą0  ąFully€supports€the€statements€made€by€the€Secretary„General€and€by€the€High€CommissionerŠ  p Šfor€Human€Rights€in€this€regard.ššŠ \(#(# ŠŌUK.,US.,‘ēŌ