Yesterday the UN’s special rapporteur for human Rights in the Palestinian territories, Richard Falk, was detained by Israeli border authorities, denied entry into Israel and subsequently expelled. While it is unfortunate that the UN is hindered in carrying out its observations and the expulsion is likely to be met with criticism, it is pertinent to make a few points. Over on Opino Juris, Julian Ku fittingly questions whether Falk is at all qualified to investigate alleged human rights violations. Furthermore, Falk’s well-know bias against the Israeli establishment begs the question whether he can at all be deemed an independent observer.…
