Israel and Human Rights

Israel has faced a lot of criticism about failing to uphold and respect human rights. Many reports in the mainstream media are about the terrorist attacks against the Jewish state and Israel's actions are sometimes overlooked: Israel has violated many UN resolutions since 1967 regarding the occupied territories etc and the Human Rights Committee has once again criticized Israel's violations of Human Rights, use of torture, demolishing Arab homes etc.

Israel has illegally occupied South Lebanon for many years, even violating a UN Security Council resolution to withdraw. However, the United States have supported Israel to not abide by the resolution. Many media reports of Hezbollah "terrorists" attacking the Israeli military regarding the border dispute often fail to mention that they are retaliating against Israeli aggression. Also, note that according to the UN, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, a country has a right to self defense if attacked and occupied.

Check out this great link for a speech from Edward Said that provides an alternative look at the issue of Palestine.

Incidentally, until September 1999, Israel was the only country in the world to effectively allow the use of torture.

For more about the Middle East check out this web site's section on the Middle East.