UNITED NATIONS, November 2. /TASS/. The right for self-defense in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict does not cover Israel, because it is an occupying state, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said, speaking at the UN General Assembly special session on Palestine.

"I also cannot leave unmentioned the hypocrisy of the US and its allies, who in other, completely different situations call for compliance with humanitarian law, establish investigative commissions, impose sanctions against those who use force only as an extreme measure to stop the years-long violence," he noted. "And today, seeing the horrifying destruction in Gaza, which exceeds everything that they criticize in other regional contexts multifold - strikes at civilian facilities, death of thousands of children and horrifying suffering of civilians amid a total blockage, they play mum. All they can do is to keep saying about Israel’s alleged right for self-defense, which, as an occupying state, it does not have, as was confirmed by the [UN] International Court consultative ruling in 2004."

Nebenzya also underscored that Russia recognizes Israel’s right to ensure its security, but "it could be fully guaranteed only in case of a fair resolution of the Palestinian problem based on recognized UN Security Council resolutions."

In October, the US vetoed Brazil’s draft UN Security Council resolution; according to US Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Washington was disappointed by the absence of mentioning of Israel’s right for self-defense.

In July, 2004, the UN International Court ruled that Israel’s construction of the "security wall" on occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, contradicted international law. The ruling was supported by 14 out of 15 judges.