Friends Of SWC - Canada Shocked At UN’s High Commissioner For Human Rights’ Lack Of Knowledge Regarding Current Mideast Conflict.

July 21, 2006

Friends Of SWC - Canada Shocked At UN’s High Commissioner For Human Rights’ Lack Of Knowledge Regarding Current Mideast Conflict.

 

TORONTO… “Louise Arbour’s recent statements regarding the current Mideast conflict not only demonstrates her lack of knowledge regarding Hezbollah’s most recent terrorist attacks but also, the history of the conflict” said Leo Adler, Director of National Affairs for the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. 

 

Louise Arbour, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights recently implied that “those in positions of command and control” in the Israel Defence Forces could be subject to “personal criminal responsibility” for their military’s actions in south Lebanon.   

 

“Arbour failed to address the fact that the Hezbollah-included government of Lebanon has been in an implicit state of war with Israel since it, along with every other Arab and Muslim country refused to abide by the 1948 UN resolution 181, calling for the creation of two independent states in Palestine.” replied Adler.

 

“Add the fact that this specific conflict was initiated by the Hezbollah – a terrorist group as identified by the Canadian government – on July 12, 2006 when it crossed the internationally recognized border into Israel and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in an unprovoked attack, and it becomes clear that Israel was forced to respond,” Adler said.

 

“What the region needs is the immediate implementation of UN Resolution 1559 (2004), which calls for the government of Lebanon to exercise its sole, legitimate sovereignty over that country and disarm all armed factions, including the Hezbollah,” explained Adler.

 

“Arbour’s concern for the civilian population is commendable, which is exactly why Hezbollah, who chooses to operate in heavily populated areas must be disarmed,” said Adler.