RAMALLAH, AUG 23 /DNA/ – The State of Palestine welcomes the Report of the ad hoc conciliation commission on the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel for violations of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
The Commission confirmed the findings of the ICJ that the prohibition of racial discrimination is a peremptory norms and that Israel, the occupying Power, is in violation of its obligations under CERD and is imposing a situation of racial segregation and apartheid over the Palestinian people and throughout the entirety of Palestine, based on race, colour, decent, and ethnic origin. The Commission also confirmed that all of Israel’s discriminatory policies and practices, including restriction of movement, theft of natural resources and land, and denial of basic fundamental rights, housing, education… in the State of Palestine are aimed at advancing its colonization of Palestine which makes it impossible to ensure equality. The Commission also confirmed that right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is critical to ensure equality and sustainable peace and the importance of combatting impunity for Israel’s racial segregation and apartheid policies.
The State of Palestine reiterates the request of the Commission that the international community, including the Security Council, has a role to end Israel’s racial segregation and apartheid. States Parties of CERD have international responsibility and a duty to enforce the Convention, not to sponsor or be complicit in Israel’s apartheid, and eradicate racial discrimination. The Commission also called on international community to take sanctions against any individual, group or entity inciting segregation, racially motivated violence, hate speech and racial discrimination.
The State of Palestine will continue to cooperate with the Commission and the Committee of CERD to ensure that Israel is held accountable for its racial segregation and apartheid and its denial of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
