U.N. rights body condemns Israel over Gaza attacks

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N.'s top human rights body condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza on Thursday in a motion proposed by Muslim states.

European Union states, Japan and Korea abstained after a compromise on the draft removed a reference to war crimes, instead describing Israeli policy as violating international humanitarian law.

Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, presented a draft resolution which Israel's envoy dismissed as "political posturing".

The 47-member Human Rights Council adopted the resolution by 33 votes to one objection, from Canada, and 13 abstentions.

The text, which was also sponsored by the League of Arab States, demanded an immediate halt to Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip as well as the firing of crude rockets into southern Israel.

It condemned persistent Israeli military attacks on Gaza and accused Israel of "inflicting collective punishment against the civilian population, which is contrary to international humanitarian law".

Since being set up in June 2006, the Council had previously rebuked Israel three times for alleged abuses in the Palestinian territories. Muslim and African countries, with the frequent backing of Russia, China and Cuba, have an effective majority on the Council.

Israeli forces withdrew from northern Gaza on Monday but sporadic fighting has persisted. The Jewish state has defended its offensive as a necessary response to rocket attacks on innocent civilians.