UN / PALESTINE

The Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967, Michael Lynk, said that "Israel’s role as the occupying power has now reached the point of illegality.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:05
• Production Date: 26 October 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; OCCUPATIONS
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE
• MAMS Id: 2017009
• Parent Id: 2017009
• Alternate Title: unifeed171026f

Description

STORY: UN / MYANMAR
TRT: 02:44
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 26 OCTOBER 2017, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

26 OCTOBER 2017, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, presser
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967:
“The laws of occupation are very clear, that the occupying power cannot treat the territory as its own nor can it make claims of sovereignty, yet this has been Israel’s persistent pattern in governing the Occupied Palestinian Territory for much of the past 50 years. In my report I recommend, based in this analysis, that Israel’s role as the occupying power has now reached the point of illegality.”
4. Med shot, journalist
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967:
“The extraordinary duration of the occupation; Israel’s acquisitive and expansionary role in colonizing the occupied territory, the diminished Palestinian economy, and the shrunken space of Palestinian daily life, and the systematic violations of human rights of the Palestinian people, all indicate that Israel has violated these foundational principles.”
6. Wide shot, dais
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967:
“The traditional approaches of international diplomacy have proven inadequate. We need a new tool box, the tools of declaring Israel the illegal occupant, stands as one of the most effective possibilities of moving a century-old conflict, and this half-century-old occupation to a durable and just end based on the principles of equality and human rights.”
8. Wide shot, dais
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967:
“There are lots of similarities between the Namibia decision in 1971 and what I am asking for.in 2017-2018. That the same sort of question was asked; is Israel continuing as the occupant now illegal? That raises the stakes of the international community on how to judge Israel’s continued status within the world community.”
10. Wide shot, end of presser

Storyline

The Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967, Michael Lynk, today (26 Oct) said that Israel’s role as the occupying power has now reached the point of illegality.”

Speaking to reporters in New York, Lynk said “the laws of occupation are very clear, that the occupying power cannot treat the territory as its own nor can it make claims of sovereignty, yet this has been Israel’s persistent pattern in governing the Occupied Palestinian Territory for much of the past 50 years.”

The Special Rapporteur said, “the extraordinary duration of the occupation; Israel’s acquisitive and expansionary role in colonizing the occupied territory, the diminished Palestinian economy, and the shrunken space of Palestinian daily life, and the systematic violations of human rights of the Palestinian people,” all indicate that Israel has violated the “foundational principles” of the rules governing an occupying power.

Lynk said “the traditional approaches of international diplomacy have proven inadequate. We need a new tool box, the tools of declaring Israel the illegal occupant, stands as one of the most effective possibilities of moving a century-old conflict, and this half-century-old occupation to a durable and just end based on the principles of equality and human rights.”

He noted that “there are lots of similarities” between the Namibia decision in 1971 by the International Court of Justice declaring South Africa an illegal occupying power, “and what I am asking for.in 2017-2018.”

He said this “raises the stakes of the international community on how to judge Israel’s continued status within the world community.”

Professor S. Michael Lynk is Associate Professor of Law at Western University in London, Ontario, where he teaches labour law, constitutional law and human rights law.

A Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. This position is honorary and the expert is not United Nations staff nor paid for his/her work.