The Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO) is gravely concerned and
unsatisfied over WHO’s intent to hold its First European Conference on the New European Policy for Health in the
occupied West Bank city of Jerusalem. Under international law East Jerusalem is
an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel’s decision to
annex it is null and void as land cannot be acquired by annexation, a principle
set forth by article 4(2) of the UN Charter. The United Nations has in many
resolutions affirmed the illegality of the Israeli annexation decision. In
resolution 478, and in response to Israel’s decision to annex the city,
the United Nations Security Council emphasized that acquisition of territory or its
annexation by force is forbidden under international law. The resolution further
affirmed the application of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the City as part of
the occupied territory. More
importantly the resolution requested member states to move their diplomatic
missions from the city in clear indication that their mere presence in Jerusalem
contravenes international law and the purposes of the UN. Here we find it
necessary to remind WHO of its status as one of the UN specialized agencies that
should respect UN resolutions and international law and principles of democracy
and human rights.
To our shock WHO has chosen Israel as a country to carry out its
First Conference on the New European Policy for Health in. By this decision WHO
appears to be rewarding law breakers who do not even give the minimum respect to
the UN itself. Examples on Israel’s disregard to the UN are numerous. We would
just mention Israel’s bombing of UNRWA’s main office in Gaza during the recent
offensive of Gaza and its attack against one of the UNFIL sites in the south
Lebanon during the 2006 war. It should be enough to say that Israel has not
complied with a single UN resolution since its establishment. What makes the
decision even more shocking is that WHO chose to hold it in Jerusalem. This can
be construed, one way or another, as an approval of Israel’s annexation
decision, contrary to UN will. Given all of these facts, we believe that WHO’s
decision is questioned.
On another level related to WHO’s mandate as health organization it
should be mentioned that Israel’s history is rich with attacks against health
institutions, ambulances and the sick themselves. Dozens of Palestinian women
delivered at check points and road blocks after they had been denied access to
hospitals by Israeli occupying forces. Many health workers including doctors and
nurses got killed while on duty. Ambulances have been targeted and crushed by
tanks many times. We do not need to provide an evidence on this as we are sure
that everybody has seen it on TV stations live. Besides, we would not say
anything about how grave these practices are under international humanitarian
and human rights law as WHO knows this. This said we would like to emphasize the
following:
·
WHO is one of the respected international organizations whose
services are highly valued everywhere. Therefore, WHO should not lose such
respect by taking such hasty decisions.
·
WHO should reconsider its decision and at least change the place of
the Conference.
·
WHO’s insistence on holding the Conference in Jerusalem is seen as an
approval of Israel’s decision to annex the occupied city and encouragement to
Israel to go further in its illegal practices against Palestinians, which can be
sometimes seen as complicity in crimes.
Finally, we call on WHO to reconsider its decision and stand beside
the victims of the conflict rather than helping perpetrators. Contrary to this
WHO would be acting against its own objective represented in “the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health”
which Israel does not respect.
24 novembre 2011
The
Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)