Middle East Monitor / February 7, 2020
Israel has launched an attack on a renowned children’s rights organisation, prompted by an invitation by Belgium to host the NGO at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) works to highlight human rights violations experienced by Palestinian children under Israeli occupation, including lethal violence by Israeli forces, as well as conditions under military detention.
According to the Jerusalem Post, in a report that uncritically repeated Israeli government allegations against the NGO, Belgium is set to invite DCIP senior adviser for policy, Brad Parker, to address UNSC members this month, in the context of Belgium’s rotating presidency.
Israel is reportedly “incensed” at the invitation, and summoned Belgium’s Deputy Ambassador Pascal Buffin “for a reprimand”, and to urge Belgium “to cancel Parker’s invitation”.
Taking to Twitter, Emmanuel Nahshon, Ambassador of Israel to Belgium and Luxembourg, claimed that Belgium has “chosen to invite terror supporters to a Security Council debate”, adding: “This is extremely disappointing and we will express our outrage in the strongest possible terms”.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, meanwhile, seemed to threaten Belgium.
“Belgium is continuing to adopt an anti-Israel line in the UN, but must know that it will have a price. Israel’s denigrators will enter a battle they weren’t looking for,” he stated.
An unnamed diplomatic source told the Jerusalem Post that hosting DCIP is merely the latest example of Belgium’s so-called “very anti-Israel actions taken in the UNSC”.
“We are furious at the Belgians,” the source said. “Belgium is using its membership in the UNSC to demonise Israel.”
