UN rights council passes 5 anti-Israel resolutions
With only 2 resolutions on Syria, and one each for South Sudan, Myanmar, Iran and North Korea, US Ambassador Haley says council 'is foolish and unworthy of its name,' calling on 'the countries who know better to demand changes.'
The United Nations Human Rights Council ended its first and longest session of the year Friday by adopting five resolutions critical of Israel's behavior toward the Palestinians or throwing support behind their long, fruitless cause for statehood.
Another two "country-specific" resolutions focused on Syria, where hundreds of thousands have died in a seven-year civil war. South Sudan, Myanmar, Iran and North Korea garnered one each.
Among the resolutions passed against Israel were ones that discussed "human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan," the "right of the Palestinian people to self-determination," the "human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem," the "Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan," and "ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem."
The resolutions adopted in Geneva include a call to adhere to Resolution 2334, which was passed in late 2016, according to which the Israeli settlements are illegal. The resolution called on world nations to "condemn the expansion of settlements" and "distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967."
Another resolution calls on Israel to refrain from expanding construction and population of the Golan Heights, due to the fact it is an occupied territory.
Nine months ago, US Ambassador Nikki Haley stormed the United Nations' top human rights body demanding an end to what she said is its bias against Israel and raising the prospect of a US pullout if it didn't.
On Friday, Haley railed that the 47-member Geneva-based body every March sets aside only two sessions to debate rights violations and abuses -- one for Israel and one for the rest of the world.
Once again, the @unhumanrights Council fails to fulfill its duty to uphold #humanrights around the world. This is unacceptable. The anti-#Israel bias must stop. Other countries must step up.
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) March 23, 2018
"When the Human Rights Council treats Israel worse than North Korea, Iran and Syria, it is the council itself that is foolish and unworthy of its name," she said.
Haley said it is time for "the countries who know better to demand changes," saying many agree the council's agenda "is grossly biased against Israel, but too few are willing to fight it."
Amb. Haley: When the Human Rights Council treats Israel worse than North Korea, Iran, & Syria, it is the Council itself that is foolish and unworthy of its name...Today’s actions make clear that the organization lacks the credibility needed to be a true advocate for human rights. pic.twitter.com/AvjAMFrmsu
— US Mission to the UN (@USUN) March 23, 2018
"When that happens, as it did today, the council fails to fulfill its duty to uphold human rights around the world," she said.
Haley said the Trump administration is continuing to evaluate its membership in the Human Rights Council.
"Our patience is not unlimited," she said. "Today's actions make clear that the organization lacks the credibility needed to be a true advocate for human rights."
