JERUSALEM, Palestine, October 12,2005 (IPC+Agencies)--The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani accused yesterday Israeli of depriving the Palestinians their very basic human rights in the name of security.

'Security imperatives' have been allowed to deprive a vast population of their very basic rights and these measures need deeper scrutiny by all concerned if any respect for norms of international human rights and humanitarian law is to be preserved,' Jilani told reporters in Jerusalem.

Jilani said Israel is preventing the lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders to monitor the likely human rights violations.

'I would remind the government of Israel that ... the absence of peace and security does not excuse non-compliance with international human rights norms and international humanitarian law,' the UN Special representative told the reporters in Jerusalem.

Jilani also accused Israel of creating 'an environment that is totally non-conducive for human rights defenders to conduct their work with facility or safety' by hampering access of lawyers, journalists and health professionals.

Jilani was addressing reporters at the end of a visit to the region and ahead of the publication of a more detailed report.