A/HRC/13/55 Palestinian Territory.13 As of the date of this report, Israel has not established an inquiry of the kind recommended by the Mission. 47. In paragraph 1972 (h) of its report, the Mission recommended that “that the Government of Israel should refrain from any action of reprisal against Palestinian and Israeli individuals and organizations that have cooperated with the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, in particular individuals who have appeared at the public hearings held by the Mission in Gaza and Geneva and expressed criticism of actions by Israel”. 48. In an open letter to senior Israeli government officials, a group of Israeli NGOs warned of the increasing “delegitimization” of organizations that cooperated with the Mission,14 which has raised serious concerns among civil society organizations carrying out human rights work.15 49. In paragraph 1972 (i) of its report, the Mission recommended that “Israel should reiterate its commitment to respecting the inviolability of United Nations premises and personnel and that it should undertake all appropriate measures to ensure that there is no repetition of violations in the future”. It further recommended that “reparations to the United Nations should be provided fully and without further delay, and that the General Assembly should consider this matter”. 50. As of the date of this report, the United Nations has not received any formal communication from the Government of Israel reiterating its commitment to respect the inviolability of United Nations premises and personnel. 51. In June and July 2009, the Secretary-General exchanged letters with the Foreign Minister of the Government of Israel regarding steps to improve coordination between the United Nations and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), so as to ensure that United Nations personnel, operations and premises are not put at risk in the event of any future military operations affecting Gaza. The United Nations has prepared a proposal to improve coordination for discussion with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 52. In its resolution 64/89 of 10 December 2009, the General Assembly “deplor[ed] the extensive damage to and destruction of [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] facilities in the Gaza Strip caused during the military operations between December 2008 and January 2009, including to schools where civilians were sheltered and [UNRWA’s] main compound and warehouse” and “urge[d] the 13 14 15 10 See, e.g., Open Letter: Palestinian, Israeli and International Human Rights NGOs Deplore PoliticallyMotivated Claims Aimed at Discrediting Human Rights Defenders, signed by 52 human rights NGOs, 1 February 2010, available at http://www.alhaq.org/etemplate.php?id=499. See the open letter to Mr. Shimon Peres, President of Israel, MK Reuven Rivlin, Knesset Speaker and Mr. Benjamin Netanyhau, Prime Minister of Israel, “Re: Assault and delegitimization of human rights organizations in Israel – warning and request for meeting”, 31 January 2010, signed by Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Israel, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights, B’Tselem, Gisha, The Public Committee against Torture in Israel, Yesh Din, Hamoked – The Centre for the Defence of the Individual, The Hotline for Migrant Workers, Israel Religious Action Center, Kav LaOved – Worker’s Hotline, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, Rabbis for Human Rights, available at http://www.acri.org.il/pdf/lettertoperes310110.pdf. See the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, “ACRI Condemns Campaign against NIF, Naomi Chazan”, available at http://www.acri.org.il/eng/story.aspx?id=705, and Human Rights Watch, “Israel: Attacks on New Israel Fund, Critical Groups, Threaten Civil Society,” available at www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/02/08/israel-attacks-new-israel-fund-critical-groups-threaten-civilsociety.

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