The United Nations special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories, submitted his resignation to the president of the Human Rights Council on Monday, citing Israel’s refusal to grant him access to the West Bank and Gaza. The Indonesian diplomat Makarim Wibisono said: “unfortunately, my efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of violations under the Israeli occupation have been frustrated every step of the way.” RT reports: Wibisono said his applications for access both written and oral were repeatedly rejected. “With no reply from Israel to my latest request, in October 2015, to have access by the end of 2015, it is with deep regret that I accept the premise upon which I took up the mandate, which is to have direct access to the victims in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, will not be fulfilled,” he said. In contrast Wibisono praised his relationship with the Palestinian government saying they cooperated fully with him and called for Israel to cooperate in future for the sake of their own human rights credibility. Wibisono isn’t the first envoy to encounter difficulties with Israel. His predecessor Richard Falk’s outspoken views on the treatment of Palestinians led to several calls for [...]