FSWC September 19, 2006

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center
FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES

HEZBOLLAH'S ATTACKS ON ISRAELI CIVILIANS ARE DELIBERATE AND CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, SAY UN'S LOUISE ARBOUR

GENEVA, Switzerland ......Canada’s Louise Arbour, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights today described Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israeli civilian targets as unquestionably deliberate, without any military objectives and undoubtedly contrary to international humanitarian law.

During a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ms. Arbour met with Leo Adler, Director of National Affairs for Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center For Holocaust Studies,  Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Dr. Shimon Samuels, International Liaison Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Mayor Shlomo Bohbot of Ma'a lot-Tarsiha and Dr. Norman Loberant of Nahariya Hospital.

"The purpose of the meeting was to object to the Council's one-sided resolutions and to present evidence of Hezbollah's crimes against humanity," said Adler. "We welcome Ms. Arbour's clear statement about Hezbollah's criminal liability."

Ms. Arbour also stressed that she wanted to visit Israel and to meet with representatives to learn more, first hand, about the effects of the attacks on northern Israelis.

-30 -
ABOUT FRIENDS OF SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES 
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies is a Canadian human rights organization dedicated to fostering tolerance and understanding through community involvement, educational outreach and social action. With over 40,000 members of all faiths around the world, it confronts important contemporary issues including racism, anti-Semitism, terrorism and genocide. Friends is affiliated with the world-wide, Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, an accredited Non-Government Organization with status at international agencies, including the United Nations, UNESCO, OSCE and the Council of Europe, with offices in New York, Miami, Paris, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires, and Toronto.  Simon Wiesenthal died in 2005 after devoting his life to preserving the memories of the victims of the Holocaust, while simultaneously seeking justice for the war criminals. Visit: www.fswc.ca