U.N. report criticizes Israel on human rights

JERUSALEM -- Israel is guilty of severe human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including "wanton destruction" of Palestinian homes, according to a U.N. report obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday.\nThe 18-page report was prepared by John Dugard, the U.N. representative for human rights, and charges that while some of Israel's actions can be explained by security concerns, many cannot.\nDuring operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel engaged in "massive and wanton destruction of property," the report said. "Bulldozers have destroyed homes in a purposeless manner and have savagely dug up roads, including electricity, sewage and water lines."\nThe government criticized the report. Israeli Foreign Ministry legal adviser Daniel Taub said the fact that the document glossed over the Rafah gunrunners' tunnels and ignored the suicide bombings that Israel says the West Bank fence is meant to stop, means the report "has nothing to contribute to any serious discussion about finding the right balance between security and human rights."\nThe annual human rights report, delivered to the AP by a diplomatic source, is to be presented to the U.N. General Assembly later this month.\nThe report is dated Aug. 12, well before the current Israeli operation in northern Gaza, the largest in four years of fighting. On Thursday, Israeli forces pulled out of the Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, leaving behind a swath of destruction.\nThe report criticizes repeated Israeli operations in the Rafah refugee camp on the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel has said its forces were looking for arms smuggling tunnels.\nThe document said that over four years, "1,497 buildings have been demolished in Rafah, affecting over 15,000 people." Some of the destruction, along the border, was for operational reasons, the report said. "Often, however, the destruction is wanton," it charged.\nThe U.N. report concentrates on Israeli violations, according to the mandate given by the world body, and does not cover Palestinian attacks against Israelis, beyond noting that nearly 1,000 Israelis have been killed during the conflict.\nThe report also criticizes the separation barrier Israel is building along the line between Israel and the West Bank, dipping into the territory in some places.\nIsrael has said the barrier is necessary to keep Palestinian suicide bombers out of Israel, after hundreds of Israelis were killed.