ISRAEL:A report commissioned by the UN rapporteur on human rights compares Israel's policies in the Palestinian territories to those of South Africa during the apartheid era.
John Dugard, a South African law professor and former anti-apartheid campaigner, called on the international community to give "serious consideration" to his proposal to ask the International Court of Justice in The Hague to issue an advisory opinion on Israel's policies and actions.
In the document, posted on the UN Human Rights Council's website, Mr Dugard says Israel's policies "certainly resemble aspects of apartheid". He cites the restriction of Palestinian movement, construction of walls and fences to separate Israelis and Palestinians, the building of Israeli settler-only cities, towns and roads, and demolition of Palestinian homes built without rarely granted Israeli permits.
He rejects Israel's contention that West Bank barriers and blockades are intended to protect Israelis from attack by Palestinian guerrillas and suicide bombers.
"It has become abundantly clear," he contends, "that the wall and checkpoints are principally aimed at advancing the safety, convenience and comfort of [ Israel's 430,000] settlers" who live in the West Bank in violation of the Geneva Conventions.
After describing the conditions under which Palestinians live, he asks: "Can it seriously be denied that the purpose of such action is to establish and maintain domination by one racial group - Jews - over another racial group - Palestinians - and systematically oppress them?" He observes, "Such an intention or purpose may be inferred from the actions described in this report."
Mr Dugard also argues that Israel's contention that it ended its occupation of Gaza in 2005 when it evacuated its army and settlers is incorrect.
"Israel retained control of Gaza's airspace, sea space and external borders, and the border crossings. Gaza became a sealed off, imprisoned and occupied territory."
He accuses both sides of committing war crimes but says the Israeli army has done so "on a much greater scale" than Palestinian irregulars who shoot rockets into southern Israel.
He is set to submit his 24-page report to a meeting of the 47-member UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next month. The council, successor to the UN Human Rights Commission, has been criticised by Israel, the US, and former secretary general Kofi Annan for focusing solely on Israel's policies. Although Israel denied Mr Dugard entry to Gaza during its offensive last summer, he did visit the territories in December.
A second report released by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation says almost half of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza are without food security. The crisis caused by Israel's closures and blockades and western financial sanctions is depriving fishermen, farmers, civil servants, teachers and shopkeepers of essential nutrition.
Kirstie Campbell, WFP spokeswoman, says 46 per cent of Palestinians are now food insecure or vulnerable, compared to 35 per cent in 2004. Many families who have lost their income have sold off land, tools and jewellery and have become destitute.
During the past year the WFP increased food aid by 25 per cent, providing for 260,000 non-refugees in Gaza and 400,000 in the West Bank.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees expanded its register of refugees entitled to food aid.
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