UN Criticizes Israeli Policy

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a report stating that the policy pursued by Israeli authorities towards Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, exhibits characteristics of racial segregation and apartheid.

The report emphasizes that Palestinians are continuously subjected to widespread land confiscation and restrictions on access to natural resources. According to OHCHR experts, these processes have led to the loss of housing and land, as well as other manifestations of systemic discrimination.

The document also notes that Palestinians often face criminal prosecution in military courts, where, according to the report, their rights to a fair trial and legal due process are regularly violated. UN experts believe that the current policy aims to entrench division, segregation, and control over Palestinians.

According to the report, different legal and administrative systems operate for Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, resulting in unequal treatment in several key areas, including freedom of movement and access to land and water.