(Reuters) – The United Nations launched an international investigation on Thursday into Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories, with the United States isolated in voting against the initiative brought by the Palestinian Authority.
The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned Israel’s planned construction of new housing units for Jewish settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, saying they undermined the peace process and posed a threat to the two-state solution and the creation of a contiguous and independent Palestinian state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly dismissed the Geneva forum on Thursday evening as “hypocritical” and having an “automatic majority against Israel”.
For more on this story, visit: UN rights body launches probe into Israeli settlements | Reuters.
Also, from Mazin Qumsiyeh:
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), was “appalled” by Israel’s racial segregation policies and that an advanced version of an upcoming CERD report indicates that racial prejudice can be found in almost every facet of Israeli life.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/116872593/CERDCISRCO14-16
Defense of Children International-Palestine branch: Bound, Blindfolded and Convicted: Children held in military detention
http://www.dci-palestine.org/sites/default/files/report_0.pdf
Pictures from Land Day events around the world (inspiring)
http://gm2j.com/main/gmj-photos/
Our video of the Land Day event in Bethlehem was watched by hundreds but some indicated problem seeing content. Here it is again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U1qQVqVnsM
More videos of Land Day events:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=339Txk8sfNY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bfJQSLnujw
UPDATE: Mustafa Barghouti stable after being struck in head at Qalandiya; Palestinian protester reports Barghouti attacked by fellow protesters
The Global March on Jerusalem–from Bethlehem by Skip Schiel
Stay Human, Get engaged, Come visit Palestine
http://bienvenuepalestine.com/