UN Human Rights Council, 8th Session, Agenda Item 7: "Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab
territories"
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories
occupied since 1967, Richard Falk
UN Watch Statement Delivered by Hillel Neuer, June 16, 2008
UN Expert Challenged For Support of 9/11 Conspiracy Theorists
Thank you, Mr. President.
Professor Falk, we appreciate this opportunity to ask you questions.
As we gather to address the Middle East, let us all commit to a future where every child, Palestinian and Israeli alike,
will see the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights become reality.
With this goal in mind, Professor Falk, let us turn to the report that you presented today, HRC 7/17.
One of the report's exceptional features is its sharp criticism of the United Nations itself. Leading UN institutions
and officials are accused of being insufficiently supportive of the Palestinians, of failing to acknowledge
international law, which, according to par. 54, "brings the very commitment of the United Nations to human rights into
question."
The report criticizes the United Nations role in the Quartet and the Road Map for Peace. It criticizes the United
Nations Security Council and one of its permanent members in particular. It criticizes the United Nations
Secretary-General, suggesting, in par. 53, that he may be refusing to fulfill legal obligations out of political
reasons.
Professor Falk, my first question to you is by what methodology does one challenge some UN decisions, while accepting
others uncritically?
Why are there no questions about today's Agenda Item targeting Israel, as expressed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on
20 June 2007, and I quote: "The Secretary-General is disappointed at the Council's decision to single out only one
specific regional item given the range and scope of allegations of Human Rights violations throughout the world."
Finally, in light of the concerns expressed by the President of this Council -- in the newspaper Le Temps and elsewhere
-- about the credibility of this council on the Middle East, could you tell us what credibility you expect your reports
to have when leading newspapers such as The Times of London are commenting on your support for the 9/11 conspiracy
theories of David Ray Griffin, who argues, and I quote from the Times article of April 15th, "that no plane hit the
Pentagon," and that "the World Trade Center was brought down by a controlled demolition"?
Thank you, Mr. President.
***
POINT OF ORDER: EGYPT SEEKS TO DELETE THE RECORD
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, I think any intervention that has nothing to do with the item should be deleted from the records of the
meeting. The reference to September 11 is not part of the item, it's not part of the Palestinian issue. And I think it
should be deleted from the records. Thank you.
***
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL PRESIDENT REFUSES TO GRANT EGYPTIAN REQUEST
Human Rights Council President Doru Costea declined to grant Egypt's request to censor UN Watch's question from the
record.
ENDS