Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Report: Israel ‘Lowers’ Participation at UN Human Rights Council Following US Decision to Withdraw
Error: Contact form not found.
by Algemeiner Staff
The UN Human Rights Council meets in Geneva. Photo: UN.
Diplomats at the UN in Geneva said on Friday that Israel had “lowered” its participation in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), three days after the US quit the body, The Associated Press reported.
Speaking to the agency’s reporters on condition of anonymity, the diplomats said that Israel had taken the decision in order to align its stance with that of the US. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley cited the continued presence of human rights abusers among the UNHRC’s members, along with the council’s in-built bias against Israel, as primary reasons for the American departure.
The diplomats in Geneva, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Israel had “lowered” its participation at the council to align its stance with that of the US.
Rolando Gomez, a spokesman for the UNHRC, confirmed to AP that Israel was not participating in the council plenary on Friday, where its seat sat empty. Israeli diplomats have not participated since a council discussion on Thursday on discrimination against women.
Attempts by AP to obtain a comment on the matter from the Israeli Foreign Ministry were unsuccessful.
In her comments explaining the US withdrawal on Tuesday, Haley denounced the UNHRC as a “cesspool of political bias.”
“Unfree countries don’t want the council to be effective — a credible Human Rights Council poses a threat to them and so they oppose it,” the US ambassador charged.
