Palestinian Territories/"Ethnic Cleansing"

Independent Films, Politics, Web Series

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the (Palestinian) Occupied Territories, Richard Falk, gave his report to the UN Human Rights Council. Mr. Falk, an American born Professor at Princeton University and himself of Jewish background, again expressed some direct views that may raise controversy. (Some of his previous statements - particularly regarding possible further investigation regarding responsibility for September 11 terrorist attacks drew a rebuke from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon). Mr. Falk described the "cumulative impact" of the Israeli occupation "as a form of ethnic cleansing" - (a term that has special meaning for victims in Bosnia & Herzegovina and where a large majority of Jews in the United States employed the legacy of "Never Again" to urge action to defend "Bosnian Muslims" from genocidal actions and policies).

Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

Mr. Richard Falk, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories:
“As the report illustrates the continued pattern of settlement expansion in East Jerusalem combined with forceful eviction of long residing Palestinians are creating an intolerable situation that can only be described in its cumulative impact, as a form of ethnic cleansing.”
4. Cutaway, Palestinian delegation, Human Rights Council, Palais des Nations.
5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Mr. Richard Falk, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories:
“Since 2007, Israel has closed three of Gaza’s four commercial crossings. Currently Israel is allowing 40 percent of Gaza’s need for incoming trucks, and just 1 percent of its outgoing needs, despite promises to lift the ban on exports. The continuing ban on export and on desperately needed construction material is preventing Gaza’s economy from recovering and is keeping its factory and construction workers unemployed and dependant on international assistance. At the present time the Gaza unemployment rate for 2011 is 45 percent, one of the highest in the world. It is not an exaggeration to report that a continuing humanitarian crisis exists in Gaza.”
6. Cutaway, Israeli delegate, Human Rights Council, Palais des Nations.
7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) H.E Ambassador Zamir Akram of Pakistan on behalf of the OIC Member States:
“The OIC endorses the renewal by Mr. Falk of the call by his predecessor for a referral of the situation to the international court of justice for an authoritative decision as to whether elements of the Israeli occupation constitute forms of colonialism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.”
8. Cut a way move from TV screen to Human Rights Council, Palais des Nations.


STOYLINE:

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council today in Geneva the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), Richard Falk said that “forcible eviction of long residing Palestinians are creating an intolerable situation that can only be described, in its cumulative impact, as a form of ethnic cleansing.”

He also noted that the blockade of Gaza “continues to violate human rights of Palestinians in Gaza.” He went on to say that Israel had recently closed a crossing into Gaza “further suffocating the population trapped in Gaza. Since 2007, Israel has closed three of Gaza’s four commercial crossings. Currently Israel is allowing 40 percent of Gaza’s need for incoming trucks, and just 1 percent of its outgoing needs.”

Falk called for the International Court of Justice to investigate the prolonged occupation, a call endorsed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference who implored the Court for an “authoritative decision as to whether elements of the Israeli occupation constitute forms of colonialism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.”

Directors:

• Mo Sacirbey UNTV-Geneva

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey