Story perspectives

UN: Israeli Policies in West Bank Amount to Apartheid

1/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said, for the first time, that Israeli policies in the West Bank constitute apartheid.
Türk said every aspect of Palestinian life is controlled by discriminatory Israeli laws.
A United Nations report says discrimination has intensified since December 2022, worsened since the October 2023 escalation, with settler violence backed by Israeli security forces and systemic oppression aimed at permanent segregation.

History

Historical Context

In 1975, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 3379, equating Zionism with racism, amid rising tensions between Israel and Palestine. Supported by 72 member states, this resolution reflected global concerns over Israeli policies. The resolution was later revoked in 1991, yet ongoing violence in the West Bank continues to highlight systemic discrimination against Palestinians, prompting calls for accountability in human rights practices.

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Story summary

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said, for the first time, that Israeli policies in the West Bank constitute apartheid.
Türk said every aspect of Palestinian life is controlled by discriminatory Israeli laws.
A United Nations report says discrimination has intensified since December 2022, worsened since the October 2023 escalation, with settler violence backed by Israeli security forces and systemic oppression aimed at permanent segregation.

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