Advertisement

Israel to appear at UN Human Rights Council after shunning it for year and a half

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday Oct. 1, 2013 at the United Nations headquarters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday Oct. 1, 2013 at the United Nations headquarters. AP Photo/Andrew Gombert,Pool

JERUSALEM – Israel’s foreign ministry says the country will appear this week in Geneva at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Sunday’s announcement effectively ends Israel’s shunning of the international body. Last March, Israel cut working relations with the council over its intention to launch an investigation into Jewish West Bank settlements.

At the time, Israel accused the council of an anti-Israel bias because of what it says is its disproportionate focus on Israeli policy toward the Palestinians.

Since its creation in 2006, the Geneva-based council has focused heavily on alleged abuses by Israel. After the United States joined in 2009, it began addressing other human rights problems as well.

Israel has had uneasy relations with the U.N. for decades.

Sponsored content

AdChoices