The head of a UN probe into Operation Protective Edge has resigned his position after Israel accused him of being biased. Mr. William Schabas made it official, that he was leaving his post as a result of ongoing accusation against him by Israel. He was placed in charge of the UN inquiry into alleged IDF war crimes perpetrated in Gaza during the military counteroffensive against Hamas in Gaza.

In his letter of resignation Schabas reportedly stated his resignation was effective immediately to prevent the issue from overshadowing the preparation of the report and its findings. The committee’s findings are expected to be released in March 2015.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday morning, “After the resignation of the committee chairman who was biased against Israel, the report that was written at the behest of the U.N. Human Rights Council — an anti-Israel body, the decisions of which prove it has nothing to do with human rights — needs to be shelved. This is the same council that in 2014 made more decisions against Israel than against Iran, Syria and North Korea combined.

“It is Hamas, the other terrorist organizations and the terrorist regimes around us that need to be investigated, not Israel, which this past summer acted in accordance with international law as it defended itself against the Hamas war criminals who used residents of Gaza as human shields to fire at Israeli citizens. Israel will continue to defend itself against the terrorism that is being directed against it on all fronts.”

In his response to the announced resignation, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday morning 14 Shevat stated, “After the resignation of the committee chairman who was biased against Israel, the report that was written at the behest of the UN Human Rights Council – an anti-Israel body, the decisions of which prove it has nothing to do with human rights – needs to be shelved. This is the same council that in 2014 made more decisions against Israel than against Iran, Syria and North Korea combined.

“It is Hamas, the other terrorist organizations and the terrorist regimes around us that need to be investigated, not Israel, which this past summer acted in accordance with international law as it defended itself against the Hamas war criminals who used residents of Gaza as human shields to fire at Israeli citizens. Israel will continue to defend itself against the terrorism that is being directed against it on all fronts.”

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman commented on the resignation of William Schabas from the chairmanship of the UN Commission of Inquiry regarding the fighting in Gaza. FM Lieberman stated that the resignation will not affect the Commission’s findings, which are as prejudiced as the body that established it, whose sole purpose is bashing and attacking Israel. The resignation serves to highlight once more the character of the Commission’s members and its inherent bias.

The foreign minister stated that Schabas’ resignation is another victory for Israeli diplomacy and the hard work of Israel’s Foreign Affairs representatives, and serves to show that even the biggest hypocrites in the international organs cannot ignore the fact that Schabas’ appointment to investigate Israel was akin to the appointment of Cain to investigate the murder of Abel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)