In a move that reflects ongoing frustration with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Israel has announced its withdrawal from the body. This decision follows closely after the United States also withdrew from the UNHRC the previous day. Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, made the announcement on Wednesday, condemning the Council for what he described as a persistent bias against Israel and its failure to hold human rights abusers accountable.
"The UNHRC has traditionally protected human rights abusers by allowing them to evade scrutiny, while obsessively demonizing the one democracy in the Middle East—Israel," Saar said in his statement. "This body has focused on attacking a democratic country and propagating antisemitism, instead of promoting human rights."
Israel had held the status of an observer at the UNHRC, a position it first withdrew from in 2012 before returning in 2015. In his remarks, Saar noted that Israel has been subjected to an overwhelming number of condemnatory resolutions by the UNHRC, pointing out that over 20% of the resolutions ever passed by the Council were directed solely at Israel—more than any other country, including Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela combined.
Saar’s decision to withdraw reflects Israel’s dissatisfaction with what it views as a one-sided focus on its actions, while other human rights violators, including countries like Iran and Syria, face far less scrutiny. He also highlighted that the UNHRC did not condemn the massacre by Hamas on October 7, 2023, a key point that further illustrated the body’s alleged bias.
Along with the official withdrawal announcement, Saar affirmed that Israel’s ambassador to the UN institutions in Geneva, Daniel Meron, will no longer attend discussions at the Council. However, Meron will remain in his role representing Israel at other UN bodies based in Geneva.
This move follows the United States' decision to withdraw from the UNHRC on Tuesday under the Trump administration. The U.S. cited similar concerns about the body’s discriminatory attitude towards Israel and its failure to address human rights violations in other countries.
A political source close to the Trump administration emphasized the contradiction between the UNHRC’s makeup and its claimed commitment to human rights. The source pointed to countries like Algeria and Cuba, whose inclusion in the Council allegedly undermines the credibility of the UNHRC’s mission.
Israel’s decision also comes as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to speak at a UN meeting on Wednesday. Guterres is expected to reaffirm the importance of adhering to international law and avoiding actions such as ethnic cleansing in the search for solutions in Gaza following the ongoing conflict with Palestinian militants.
In his statement, Guterres will reiterate his support for a two-state solution, underscoring the need for a fair and just resolution to the situation in Gaza. Despite the ongoing challenges, the UN remains committed to seeking peaceful solutions while navigating the complex dynamics of the region.
Israel’s withdrawal from the UNHRC marks a significant moment in the country’s ongoing battle against what it perceives as disproportionate criticism from international bodies. With both Israel and the U.S. now stepping back from the Council, there will undoubtedly be increased scrutiny of the UNHRC’s approach to human rights issues moving forward.
