United States dissents from vote.
(Illustration: An Israeli settler educates his son in the brutal art of occupation.)
The UN human-rights commission on Thursday condemned Israel’s settlement of “occupied Palestinian territory,” including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and demanded that the government reverse the policy.
The 53-member United Nations watchdog also criticized rights abuses in Cuba and requested that the global body monitor the island nation.
The resolution on Israel passed by a 39-2 vote with 12 abstentions. It said Israel should “prevent any new installation of settlers in the occupied territories.” Australia and the United States cast the two votes against.
Censure by the commission brings no penalties but spotlights a government’s record, and delegations lobby hard to avoid it.
Israel’s Ambassador Itzhak Levanon said the resolution brought shame on the UN, noting that Israeli plans to withdraw from Gaza and the northern West Bank in a few months.
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