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12:14 GMT
GENEVA, Sept 28 (KUNA) -- The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution
that clearly stated that all Israeli policies, as the occupying power, under
any pretext are to limit access to the Palestinian holy places particularly in
Occupied East Jerusalem, are in violation of the religious and cultural rights
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) including East Jerusalem.
The resolution was adopted by 31 votes for, one against, and 15 abstentions
including the European Union (EU).
The Council called upon Israel to cease those acts immediately.
The resolution called upon Israel to respect the religious and cultural
rights enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the oPt,
including East Jerusalem and to allow Palestinian worshipper unfettered access
to their religious sites.
On behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Pakistani
ambassador Masood Khan told the Council that these restrictions continue
during the holy month of Ramadan thus obstructing access of the Palestinians
to their religious places.
Palestinian ambassador Dr. Mohammad Abu-Koash said that currently Israel
has imposed sever restrictions of movement because of the Jewish holidays.
This, he added, is outrageous, but it is a normal practice by Israel
whenever there are religious holidays whether Christian or Muslims and denied
them access to their holy places.
The representative of Mexico Mariana Olivera told the Council that
obstructing people to get to their places of worship is one of the worst
manifestations of intolerance throughout history.
Olivera quoted John Kennedy in relation to the Berlin Wall that this is an
not only an offense against history but an offense to mankind, and that Mexico
agrees with that saying.
"New walls will fall but the walls which exist continue to build in the
memories of people mistrust," she stressed. (end)
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