resolutions of the United Nations, particularly Secuity Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). Noting that history was full of examples of many "savage forms of domination", he said that Israel's recent actions, including the "criminal" blockade against the Gaza Strip, the "Cast Lead" invasion and the attack against the humanitarian "Freedom Flotilla", were expressions of the current "imperialist hegemony".  Venezuela was deeply concerned about the impunity with which the Government of Israel acted against human dignity and the passivity with which the international community took those serious issues.  It was the responsibility of Member States of the United Nations to decisively contribute to a better and more just world, which was incompatible with the constant violation of international humanitarian law and the human rights of men, women and children by the State of Israel. MOURAD BENMEHIDI ( Algeria ) said ongoing developments in the occupied Palestinian territories showed continued violations of Palestinian rights and a worsening situation as a result of Israel's acceleration of illegal settlements, settler violence, home demolitions and forced evictions.  Despite recent efforts to revitalize the peace process, Israel continued to carry out its illegal actions in East Jerusalem, altering the physical, legal and institutional structure of the occupied territory, measures that were intended to annex that territory by bringing about long-term demographic changes. The "disturbing" situation in Gaza revealed that Palestinians were being collectively punished.  Some 1.5 million Gazans had been isolated over the years, prohibited to study at West Bank