Britain takes aim at UN rights council over Israel bias

GENEVA — Britain urges the UN Human Rights Council to reform its treatment of Israel, joining the United States in demanding an end to the body’s alleged bias against the Jewish State.

Addressing the opening of the 38th council session, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson criticizes the council’s controversial Agenda Item 7, a permanent fixture on the schedule exclusively devoted to discussing alleged rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“We share the view that the dedicated Agenda Item 7 focused solely on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is disproportionate and damaging to the cause of peace, and unless things change we shall vote next year against all resolutions introduced under Item 7,” Johnson says.

Israel is the only country with a dedicated council item.

Johnson notes however that the council had an important role to play in “the Israeli-Palestinian conflict under the right agenda item.”

— AFP