PHM-Exch> PNGO Reminds WHO that Jerusalem Is under Belligerent Occupation

[Wim De Ceukelaire]

    The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network Statment 

 

    PNGO Reminds WHO that Jerusalem Is under Belligerent Occupation

                                    

The Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO) is gravely concerned  over WHO’s
Europe office décision  to hold its First European Conference on the New
European Policy for Health in the occupied  Jerusalem. Under
international law East Jerusalem is an integral part of the occupied
Palestinian territory and Israel’s decision to annex it is null and void
as land cannot be acquired by annexation, a principle set forth by
article 4(2) of the UN Charter. The United Nations has in many
resolutions affirmed the illegality of the Israeli annexation decision.
In resolution 478, and in response to Israel’s decision to annex the
city, the United Nations Security Council reiterated once and again
that acquisition of territory or its annexation by force is forbidden
under international law.

 More importantly the resolution requested member states not to take any
steps with regard to their diplomatic mission that might jeopardise the
legal status of Jerusalem as an occuppied City.  Here we find it
necessary to remind WHO of its status as one of the UN specialized
agencies that should respect UN resolutions and international law and
principles of the UN enshrined in its conventions.

 

Surprisingly  WHO has chosen Israel as a country to carry out its First
Conference on the New European Policy for Health in. By this decision
WHO appears to be rewarding law breakers who do not even give the
minimum respect to the UN itself. Examples on Israel’s disregard to the
UN are numerous. We would just mention Israel’s bombing of UNRWA’s main
office in Gaza during the recent offensive of Gaza and its attack
against one of the UNFIL sites in the south Lebanon during the 2006 war.
It should be enough to say that Israel has not complied with a single UN
resolution since its establishment. What makes the decision even more
shocking is that WHO chose to hold it in Jerusalem. This can be
construed, one way or another, as an approval of Israel’s annexation
decision, contrary to UN will. Given all of these facts, we believe that
WHO’s decision is questioned. 

 

On another level related to WHO’s mandate as health organization it
should be mentioned that Israel’s record is full with attacks against
health institutions, ambulances,  medical and health facilities. Dozens
of Palestinian women delivered at check points and road blocks after
they had been denied access to hospitals by Israeli occupying forces.
Many health workers including doctors and nurses got killed while on
duty. Ambulances have been targeted and crushed by tanks many times. We
do not need to provide an evidence on this as we are sure that everybody
has seen it on TV stations live. Needless to say that WHO is aware of
all these violations prcticesd. In this regard Palestinian organizations
working in the field of health would like to emphsise the following :

·         WHO is one of the respected international organizations whose
services are highly valued everywhere. Therefore, WHO should not
jeorpadise its credibality and impartiality by taking such hasty
decisions.

·         WHO should reconsider its decision and at least change the
place of the Conference.

·         WHO’s insistence on holding the Conference in Jerusalem is
seen as an approval of Israel’s decision to annex the occupied city and
encouragement to Israel to go further in its illegal practices against
Palestinians, which can be sometimes seen as complicity in crimes.

 

24 novembre 2011    

 

 

The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)

Health Sector Committee 

 




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