Print ArticleMarian Houk replies to this letter here.
I would like to make the following factual corrections regarding Marian Houk´s article published in the American Chronicle on 18 June 2008. In that article, Ms. Houk wrote:
"Israel has consistently not replied to visa requests to most UN Special Rapporteurs, or special investigative missions, whose mandates it does not like. So, most of them do not come to the region."
A brief bit of research of the United Nations´ OHCHR website would indicate that this is information is completely inaccurate.
It is true that Israel has consistently registered its dismay at the United Nations´ institutional bias in consideration of the Palestinian issue. For more than 40 years, Israel has questioned the need to have three distinct bodies (the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; the Division for Palestinian Rights; and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People) dedicated to one particular group. Israel has also expressed its disappointment that the vast majority of investigative mandates which emerged from the Commission on Human Rights and its successor, the Human Rights Council, have been very narrowly delineated to focus specifically on alleged Israeli violations.
However, it is false to state that Israel has "consistently not replied to visa requests to most UN Special Rapporteurs." In October 2005, Israel hosted Ms. Hina Jilani, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders. In September 2006, Israel hosted a joint visit by four Special Procedures: the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Internally Displaced Persons, the Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions, the Special Rapporteur on Health and the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing. In April 2007, Israel hosted Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict. In July 2007, Israel hosted Mr. Martin Scheinin, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism. And in January 2008, Israel hosted Ms. Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Additionally, Israel hosted a visit by Ms. Louise Arbour, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in November 2006.
Of course, all of these missions were interspersed with regular, twice-yearly visits from the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, who was always provided with special documentation to facilitate his movements in our region.
The hosting of eight Special Rapporteurs and the High Commissioner in less than three years demonstrates a far greater cooperative record than many other states can claim. Ms. Houk´s decision to insinuate otherwise does both Israel and your publication a great disservice.
I ask that you publish this correction at the soonest opportunity.
Yours sincerely,
Itzhak Levanon
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
I would like to make the following factual corrections regarding Marian Houk´s article published in the American Chronicle on 18 June 2008. In that article, Ms. Houk wrote:
"Israel has consistently not replied to visa requests to most UN Special Rapporteurs, or special investigative missions, whose mandates it does not like. So, most of them do not come to the region."
A brief bit of research of the United Nations´ OHCHR website would indicate that this is information is completely inaccurate.
It is true that Israel has consistently registered its dismay at the United Nations´ institutional bias in consideration of the Palestinian issue. For more than 40 years, Israel has questioned the need to have three distinct bodies (the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; the Division for Palestinian Rights; and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People) dedicated to one particular group. Israel has also expressed its disappointment that the vast majority of investigative mandates which emerged from the Commission on Human Rights and its successor, the Human Rights Council, have been very narrowly delineated to focus specifically on alleged Israeli violations.
However, it is false to state that Israel has "consistently not replied to visa requests to most UN Special Rapporteurs." In October 2005, Israel hosted Ms. Hina Jilani, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders. In September 2006, Israel hosted a joint visit by four Special Procedures: the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Internally Displaced Persons, the Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions, the Special Rapporteur on Health and the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing. In April 2007, Israel hosted Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict. In July 2007, Israel hosted Mr. Martin Scheinin, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism. And in January 2008, Israel hosted Ms. Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Additionally, Israel hosted a visit by Ms. Louise Arbour, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in November 2006.
Of course, all of these missions were interspersed with regular, twice-yearly visits from the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, who was always provided with special documentation to facilitate his movements in our region.
The hosting of eight Special Rapporteurs and the High Commissioner in less than three years demonstrates a far greater cooperative record than many other states can claim. Ms. Houk´s decision to insinuate otherwise does both Israel and your publication a great disservice.
I ask that you publish this correction at the soonest opportunity.
Yours sincerely,
Itzhak Levanon
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
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