U.N. panel accuses Israel of racism in Lebanon [View All]

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6:45 p.m. ET Aug 3, 2006

UN anti-discrimination panel criticizes Israel for civilian killings

American on anti-bias panel says others deserve blame for Arab deaths

The Associated Press

GENEVA - Members of a U.N. anti-discrimination panel criticized Israel on Thursday for killing civilians in Lebanon, accusing the Jewish state of violating international humanitarian law and racially targeting Arabs.

The sole American on the panel, Ralph Boyd, Jr., said the committee also needed to address the actions of other parties playing a role in the conflict — a clear reference to Hezbollah, Iran and Syria.

“What is going on is far beyond what a reasonable people consider tolerable,” said Brazilian Ambassador Jose Lindgren-Alves, one of the experts on the panel, during the special session called to address the violence in the Middle East.

“Is there not at least a tinge of racism stimulating the disproportionate response to the kidnapping of one or two soldiers that was supposedly at the origin of Israel’s actions?” Lindgren-Alves asked.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14173489/