General Assembly
It is with dismay and disappointment that I address this Committee as we consider the recent report of the Human Rights Council (A/65/53).
According to its own founding instruments, the Human Rights Council is required to conduct its work based on the “principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity…without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner.”
Today’s report and the series of resolutions it contains show just how far the Human Rights Council has strayed from these founding principles.
The political nature of this Council was demonstrated again by its response to the 31 May incident involving vessels bound for the Gaza Strip. This body found it appropriate to adopt a resolution condemning Israel just two days after this incident, disregarding the lack of information available about what occurred.
The Council’s report on this incident embodied the same spirit of willful ignorance, making clear that this body prefers to perpetuate inflammatory language instead of pursuing impartiality, truth, or building a greater respect for human rights.
Israel cannot accept the biased manner in which the Human Rights Council handled this issue. Israel investigated and is still investigating the events related to the flotilla. Israel also agreed to participate in the Secretary-General’s Panel of Inquiry on the matter –– and will be sharing the findings of its internal investigations with this panel’s experts.
Mr. Chairman,
Any objective and impartial examination of the Council’s recent report confirms its bias and obsession with Israel. My delegation notes that half of the report’s country-specific resolutions not dealing with technical assistance are targeted exclusively at Israel.
More than anything, this reflects the profound institutional problem of the Council’s one-sided treatment of Israel. Since its creation, 12 of its 15 regular sessions have adopted biased resolutions singling out Israel. Furthermore, 6 of the 13 special sessions of the Council have been devoted to targeting Israel.
I would also point out that the Human Rights Council’s Agenda Item 7 is the Council's only standing agenda item concerned with a particular country situation, singling it out from all other 191 country situations, in clear violation of General Assembly resolution 60/251, and basic notions of fairness and impartiality.
This blatant misuse and exploitation of the Council’s proceedings and the distortion of its mandate fundamentally undermine its credibility and legitimacy, and in effect, prevent it from addressing the many serious human rights violations in the world.
Israel is a democracy committed to the rule of law and human rights with an internationally respected independent judiciary, and a pluralist and active civil society. Israel has demonstrated its strong commitment to engaging in a candid and professional dialogue in various UN fora, including before the Council’s Universal Periodic Review and its special rapporteurs.
However, we cannot accept a partisan report that perpetuates a politicized agenda which ultimately undermines the Human Rights Council’s work and credibility. This approach fundamentally undermines this body’s ability to carry out the important task of promoting and safeguarding human rights around the world, and should deeply concern anyone who is committed to promoting a responsible and universal human rights agenda.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
