UN Human Rights Director resigns, accuses UN of failing to prevent ‘Genocide’ in Gaza
Craig Mokhiber, the director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has resigned from his post, accusing the United Nations of "failing" to prevent what he categorizes as genocide of Palestinian civilians in Gaza under Israeli bombardment.
In his resignation letter sent to the UN High Commissioner in Geneva, Volker Turk, Mokhiber cited the US, UK, and much of Europe as "wholly complicit in the horrific assault" and claimed that the UN had become "powerless to stop it."
Mokhiber, who was stepping down due to reaching retirement age, criticized the UN for its failure to prevent previous genocides, including those against the Tutsis in Rwanda, Muslims in Bosnia, the Yazidi in Iraqi Kurdistan, and the Rohingya in Myanmar. He stated that the current situation in Gaza, where Palestinian people are being systematically persecuted, amounts to a "textbook case of genocide" and condemned the international community for refusing to meet their obligations under the Geneva Conventions. He accused the US, UK, and many European countries of arming Israel's assault and providing political and diplomatic cover for it.
In his resignation letter, Mokhiber called for the effective end to the state of Israel, proposing the establishment of a single, democratic secular state in all of historic Palestine with equal rights for Christians, Muslims, and Jews. He also advocated for the dismantling of the "deeply racist, settler-colonial project" and an end to apartheid in the region.
“The current wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial settler ideology, in continuation of decades of their systematic persecution and purging, based entirely upon their status as Arabs … leaves no room for doubt.” He added in his letter.
“We must support the establishment of a single, democratic secular state in all of historic Palestine, with equal rights for Christians, Muslims, and Jews,” he wrote, adding: “and, therefore, the dismantling of the deeply racist, settler-colonial project and an end to apartheid across the land.”
Mokhiber, who has worked for the UN since 1992, has been a prominent figure in the organization, leading initiatives related to human rights-based approaches to development and serving as a senior human rights adviser in conflict zones such as Palestine, Afghanistan, and Sudan. His departure from the UN's New York office has sparked mixed reactions.
Louis Charbonneau, the UN director at Human Rights Watch, praised Mokhiber's stance, highlighting his powerful argument against double standards in the UN's approach to Israel and Palestine. Charbonneau emphasized the urgent need for the UN to rectify its human rights stance in the region.
“You don’t have to agree with everything in the letter to see that he’s made a powerful and depressing case that the UN lost its way on human rights when it comes to Israel and Palestine, partly due to pressure from the US, Israel and other governments. It’s not too late to turn the UN ship around, but they need to do it quickly.” Louis added.
However, Anne Bayefsky, director of Touro College’s Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust in New York, accused Mokhiber of "overt antisemitism," claiming that he used a UN letterhead to call for "wiping Israel off the map."
Mokhiber's outspoken resignation has stirred debates about the UN's role in the Israel-Palestine conflict and its commitment to upholding human rights standards in the face of political pressure from influential member states.
The Director of the UN's New York office just resigned after thirty years at the organisation over the UN's handling of the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.
— ✍️🏿ayan (@artan_ayan) October 31, 2023
The entirety of his resignation letter is a necessary read but this first page blew me away. pic.twitter.com/3y9NwgIofP
The #genocide we are witnessing in #Palestine is the product of decades of Israeli #impunity provided by the US & other western governments & decades of #dehumanization of the Palestinian people by western corporate media. Both must end now. Speak up for #HumanRights
— Craig Mokhiber (@CraigMokhiber) October 30, 2023
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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