UN rights chief says Israeli policy in West Bank 'resembles apartheid system'

A UN report states that Israeli policies and practices in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, constitute "systemic discrimination" against Palestinians, resembling apartheid. The report, issued by the UN human rights office, highlights the "asphyxiating impact" of Israeli laws on Palestinian daily life, citing restrictions on access to essential resources and services. High Commissioner Volker Türk noted the situation has "drastically deteriorated" over the past three years. Israel dismissed the report as "absurd and distorted," citing security threats and accusing the UN office of bias. The report is the first time a UN human rights chief has explicitly compared Israeli policies in the West Bank to apartheid. The report details that Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank are treated under two distinct bodies of law, resulting in unequal treatment.

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