US threat to leave human rights body over Israel ‘bias’

THE Trump administration gave formal notice yesterday that it is considering withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council over what the US ambassador described as its “chronic anti-israel bias”.

Campaign groups condemned the threat, saying America should get its own house in order before undermining the global effort to protect against human rights abuses.

The council’s critical view of Israel has long been a source of contention in the US, Israel’s closest ally.

Yesterday, Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, told the 47-member forum it was undermining its own credibility by turning a blind eye to abuses committed by other countries.

“The United States is looking carefully at this council and our participation in it. We see some areas for significant strengthening,” she said at the council’s Geneva headquarters.

She compared the case of Israel with that of Venezuela, where dozens of protesters have been killed during months of political turmoil yet which currently has a seat on the council.

“It’s hard to accept that this council has never considered a resolution on Venezuela and yet it adopted five biased resolutions, in March, against a single country, Israel,” she added. “It is essential this council address chronic anti-israel bias if it is to have any credibility.”

Jamil Dakwar, director of the human rights programme at the American Civil Liberties Union, said: “The United States must get its own house in order and make human rights at home a priority – then, it can begin to credibly demand the same of other countries abroad.”