Caledoniyya

Feeling cantankerously under the weather, I was hoping to unearth a real spirit-lifter, but instead discovered the following.

Admittedly, it does not fit the bill, but equally it could not pass without quippery:

UN expert wants to examine rights violations by Palestinians

GENEVA (AFP) — The UN’s independent expert on human rights in the Palestinian territories on Monday asked to examine violations committed not just by Israel but also by Palestinians.

Special Rapporteur Richard Falk’s current mandate only applies to Israeli violations of human rights in the Palestinian territories.

“This has allowed critics of the Human Rights Council and of the reports of this particular mandate to complain about the bias and one-sidedness of the approach taken. With all due respect, I believe that such complaints have considerable merit,” Falk told the Human Rights Council.

He asked for the mandate to be broadened to Palestinian violations of international humanitarian law, saying that it would “enhance the credibility and effectiveness” of his reports, as well as respond “in a constructive way to criticism that have been made in the past”.

The Human Rights Council is expected to take a decision on the mandate during a sitting in September.

The question that springs foremost to mind in response is: how would you define ‘Palestinian violations of international humanitarian law’?

Would it comprise the fight to reclaim land stolen sixty-years ago? The right to defend against random beatings while grazing your sheep? Or perhaps expressing rage as your house is razed and your livelihood lost?

The request is akin to a robber suing the house-owner for swatting him with a poker after being rumbled at 3 a.m. with his be-gloved paws in the kitty jar.

Hold on – that is not so outlandish, given that Britons are not supported by the law while protecting homes and children.

I guess the legacy of skewed legal reasoning has been maintained as ardently as the Palestinian need, nay, right to a homeland.

My lesson learned, all future forays for smile-inducement shall take me directly here, for wicked humour has never been done with such aplomb.

[Image via: bintjbeil]