Israel summons Philippines ambassador over anti-Israel UNHRC vote

“It is unacceptable that a country like the Philippines, which suffers from extremist, murderous Islamic terrorism in its south, would support a decision that ignores the Hamas...war crimes."

By LAHAV HARKOV
Updated: MAY 30, 2021 20:19
Muslim rebels shout Allahu Akbar during an assembly at Darapanan the main base of the MILF on the southern island of Mindanao. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Muslim rebels shout Allahu Akbar during an assembly at Darapanan the main base of the MILF on the southern island of Mindanao.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned Philippine Ambassador to Israel Macairog S. Alberto for clarification about his country’s vote at the UN Human Rights Council last week in favor of creating a permanent investigatory panel into alleged Israeli war crimes.
This is the first time the UNHRC has created a permanent probe with no end date.
The ambassadors from Mexico, Argentina and Uzbekistan are likely to be summoned in the coming days over their countries’ votes in the UNHRC.
The Philippines vote is unacceptable to Israel and rewards terrorism said Gilad Cohen, the Foreign Ministry’s deputy director-general for Asia and the Pacific.
“It is unacceptable that a country like the Philippines, which suffers from extremist, murderous Islamic terrorism in its south, would support a decision that ignores the Hamas terrorist organization’s war crimes,” he said.
Israel expects friendly countries such as the Philippines to stand with it and not support resolutions that strengthen terrorism, Cohen said.
The UNHRC voted 24-9 on Thursday to investigate Israel for alleged war crimes during the recent 11-day round of fighting with Hamas in Gaza and elsewhere. No European Union member states supported the resolution, and 14 countries abstained.
This was the first time the UNHRC established a permanent investigation of any UN member state. It was proposed by the Palestinian Authority and Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The other countries supporting the motion were: Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Indonesia, Libya, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.
It was opposed by Austria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Germany, Malawi, Marshall Islands, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
The Bahamas, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, France, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Togo and Ukraine abstained.
This “shameful decision is yet another example of the UN Human Rights Council’s blatant anti-Israel obsession,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week. “Once again, an immoral automatic majority at the council whitewashes a genocidal terrorist organization that deliberately targets Israeli civilians while turning Gaza’s civilians into human shields.
“This, while depicting as the ‘guilty party’ a democracy acting legitimately to protect its citizens from thousands of indiscriminate rocket attacks. This travesty makes a mockery of international law and encourages terrorists worldwide.”
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.


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