Arab and Islamic countries on Friday demanded that the United Nations Human Rights Council condemn Israel for its conduct in Lebanon. A draft resolution before the special session of the UN body in Geneva accuses Israel of massive and systematic violations of human rights and international agreements. The draft, signed by 11 of the 47 member countries of the council, demands that a commission be sent to investigate Israel's conduct in its war against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour called on all combatting parties to protect the civilian population. Indiscriminate attacks were just as prohibited as the abuse of civilians as human shields, Arbour said. Israeli air strikes were continuing, as were Hezbollah's missile attacks on northern Israel, she said. An investigative commission had to examine human-rights violations on all sides, she was quoted as saying by the German News Agency "DPA." On behalf of the European Union, Finland demanded an immediate ceasefire. The EU condemned the killing of innocent civilians in Israeli air strikes as much as Hezbollah's missile attacks.
