Israel to block entry of UN probe

David Ha'Ivri

David Ha'Ivri, Director of the Shomron liaison office of the settler's Yesha umbrella group, told Xinhua on Sunday that, while he would be willing to make his case before the group's representatives were they allowed entry, he doubted the visit's rationale.
"I think the United Nations are way out of line," Ha'Ivri said. "There are so many outrageous violations of human rights around the world ... in Syria, in Egypt, in Libya - the HRC is making a great mistake in putting this issue at the top of the list"

The Israeli government has decided to bar entry into Israel by a United Nation's Human Rights Council (HRC) fact-finding probe into presumed abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, a senior minister said Sunday.
"We have many resources but we will act with discretion and will not shoot from the hip," Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told Israel Radio.
The government's "group of eight" senior ministers will convene on Sunday to consider punitive measures against the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) over the HRC's decision to send an evidence-gathering mission to the area.
Sanctions, including withholding tax revenues that Israel collects on behalf of the PNA, are among the steps to be weighed at the weekly cabinet session, the Ha'aretz daily said. Israel is also warning that it may also halt joint economic projects with the PNA, as well as recall its envoy to the Geneva-based organization.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz are said to be supportive of taking fiscal punitive measures against the PNA.
On a similar note, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement after the 39:1 vote, "This is a hypocritical council with an automatic majority against Israel. This council ought to be ashamed of itself."