The international community faces a difficult situation with a recalcitrant state engaged in widespread violations of human rights and humanitarian law, in disregard of numerous efforts in the UN system to uphold the rule of law. To address this challenge, the Commission must take the initiative in establishing effective mechanisms for implementing basic human rights in the OPT as an essential first step in the longer process of securing a just resolution to the conflict. The UN has made clear in numerous fora and myriad reports the absolute necessity for Israel to uphold international law in its conduct in the OPT and now the Commission has the opportunity to propose concrete measures to effectuate this well-established international mandate.
Towards that end, a number of practical steps have already been proposed by the HRIC, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur, and a host of UN and independent human rights bodies. In assessing the viability of these steps, the HRIC noted that it
was encouraged by the extent to which its own assessments of the main issues addressed in the report substantially coincided with the most trustworthy third party views, including those of diplomatic representatives of the European Union and senior international civil servants with years of experience in the region. Thus, an informed and impartial consensus reinforces the conclusions and recommendations set forth here. (p. 37, para. 6)
CESR urges the Commission to support this international consensus through the following actions: