No justice expected from UN on Palestine: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed Paul Larudee, the cofounder of Free Palestine Movement, in Berkeley, to discuss a new report by the United Nations, condemning Israel for the maltreatment of Palestinian children.

What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon repeatedly said back in the 50-day war that this figure of over 500 children killed was grossly exaggerated by Hamas. Now that we know this figure is indeed true, why do we not see Tel Aviv take responsibility for this tragedy?

Larudee: Since when has Israel taken responsibility for anything? They are happy to claim violations by Palestinians, but when it comes to their own violations, they are not ready to take any credit for it.

Press TV: Right, and as you heard in the report, Israel is lobbying hard against the inclusion into this UN’s list of shame. Now, if killing 540 children in 50 days does not make the list, then what does?

Larudee: Well, you can add to that the children who are abducted in the middle of the night throughout the West Bank and thrown in jail without charges and without permission to see a lawyer or to be accompanied by their parents. You can include Mohammed Khdeir, who was set afire by settlers and the settlers were let go with nothing happening to them. The list is endless.

Israel has clearly five out of the six criteria that the United Nations has put up to decide who goes on the list. The killing and maiming of children, sexual violence against children, attacks against schools and hospitals, abduction of children, and denial of humanitarian access for children. You can find many examples of Israel violating those five criteria on a massive scale. The only one they have not violated is the recruitment of the children for their armed forces; that is it.

Press TV: This 22-page report is yet another condemnation. Will we only see the US condemnation for this tragedy or we will see these deceased children ultimately receive some sort of justice or accountability for having their lives cut short?

Larudee: Well, I don’t think you will see justice coming from the United Nations; the United States, if it ever comes up, will block it. In any case, the United Nations is merely the client of the United States. So I do not think that it is going to happen soon. It is up to us to make it happen. We all have a responsibility in trying to get justice for Palestinians and to rid the world of this racist enterprise that kills not only children, but entire nations.

MTM/HJL

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