(IP) –Representatives from the European Union, Turkey and Morocco held talks at the International Forum of Al-Quds on October 28-29, in Rabat, on the escalating violence in Jerusalem at the Aqsa Mosque. The EU Special Representative to the Middle East peace process, Marc Otte; Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Arinc; and Moroccan Foreign Minister, Taieb Fassi Fihri, attended the Forum, to discuss bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East in light of Israeli aggression against the holy city of Al Quds. Marc Otte told Agence Maghreb Arabe Press (MAP), after the conference, that the EU shares with Turkey and Morocco “the same strategic concerns in the Middle East,” and that the resolution of the conflict cannot be achieved without taking into account the values of openness and tolerance.

The United Nations Human Rights Council seemed to agree, having concluded its twelfth Special Session, on October 18, by adopting a resolution condemning the Israeli’s lack of cooperation with a UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission that was headed by the South African Justice, Richard Goldstone. Although the findings of the Mission drew fierce criticism, the Council endorsed the recommendations contained in the Mission’s report, which stated the allegations of war crimes should be referred to the International Criminal Court if internal investigations within Israel were not fulfilled.

The Human Right’s Council also condemned violations of human rights in what it referred to as “Occupied East Jerusalem,”  demanding that Israel “allow Palestinian citizens and worshippers unhindered access to their properties and religious sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and that it immediately cease all digging and excavation works and activities beneath and around Al Aqsa Mosque,” according to a UN report; the report cited the confiscation of lands and properties, the demolishing of houses, the construction and expansion of settlements, the continuous construction of the separation Wall, the restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Palestinian citizens of East Jerusalem, as well as the continuous digging and excavation works in and around Al-Aqsa mosque and its vicinity, as ongoing human rights violations.

The report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission, concluded that, while the Israeli Government sought to portray its operations as a response to rocket attacks, in the exercise of its right to self defense, the Israeli plan had been directed, at least in part, at the people of Gaza as a whole. While it also condemned indiscriminate Hamas rocketfire as crimes of war, the report was widely viewed as one-sided, against Israel.  

Justice Richard Goldstone continues to defend the 500-page document issued last month by the Gaza Mission. As reported by Al Jazeera, Justice Goldstone commented on October 22, “I’ve no doubt, many of the critics - the overwhelmingly majority of critics - have not read the report,” as the “level of criticism does not go to the substance of the report.” He further stated: “There still have not been responses to the really serious allegations that are made. People generally don’t like to be accused of criminal activity.”

The OHCHR session’s resolution was adopted by a vote of 25 in favour, six against, and 11 abstentions.