Philippines stands by vote for UN probe into Israel’s actions in Gaza

The Duterte administration on Thursday said it stands by its decision to vote in favor of the United Nations' probing alleged abuses committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians during recent hostilities, saying it was consistent with respecting rights of individual states.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned Philippine Ambassador to Israel Macairog Alberto “for clarification discussion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the Philippines’ vote at the Human Rights Council in favor of the establishment of an investigative committee against Israel over events surrounding Operation Guardian of the Walls.”

“The President does not micromanage. Although he is the chief architect of foreign policy, the way our delegation votes in the UN, UN Human Rights Council...he leaves that to the Philippine delegation,” Roque said.

“Our delegation has a record of being consistent in voting in favor of the rights of the Palestine citizens to have a state, in the same way that we supported Israelis when the state of Israel was formed, and so we defer to the decision of our Department of Foreign Affairs,” he added.

One vote, Roque said, will not get in the way of the strong bilateral relations between Israel and the Philippines.

“The vote in UN Human Rights Council does not in any way, or should not in any way affect our excellent bilateral relations with Israel. In fact, the President is expecting the Israel to help in modernization of our Armed Forces. We are working on  non-stop flight from Israel to the Philippines,” he said.

“That vote has nothing to so with our very close ties with Israel,” he added. — BM, GMA News