U.N. votes to investigate Israel, not Hamas

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday, July 23, called the vote by the U.N. Human Rights Council to establish a commission of inquiry into Israel’s alleged human rights violations in Gaza “another shocking perversion” of the Council’s mandate.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

“With all of the evidence of the millions of Israelis hunkering down in bomb shelters under threat of Hamas rockets, of Hamas blatantly firing and storing rockets, missiles and other weaponry from and in schools, mosques, apartment buildings and ambulances, the Human Rights Council has again chosen to focus on alleged Israeli crimes.

“Does this institution not recall the absurdity of the investigation into Israel’s alleged crimes during in its 2008-09 Gaza operation?  Even the head of that commission, Justice Richard Goldstone, publicly repudiated the report’s conclusions.

“We already know how this will go.  The inquiry will be staffed by individuals with a long record of bias and criticism of Israeli policies.  Israel, understandably, will refuse to cooperate.  A harsh, biased and fundamentally flawed report will be issued.  The only lasting impact will be the further undermining of the cause of protecting international human rights.

“We commend the United States for voting no, and standing up to this shocking perversion of the council’s responsibility to protect human rights.  European Union member states should be ashamed for not doing the same.”

Similarly, the American Jewish Committee said it was dismayed by the adoption of a UN Human Rights Council resolution that sharply criticizes Israel, while totally absolving Hamas of any role or responsibility in the current conflict.

The vote took place in Geneva Wednesday. The resolution was adopted with 29 nations voting in favor, the United States opposed, and 17 countries, primarily from Europe and Africa, abstaining.

“For anyone interested in knowing what’s wrong with the UN’s preeminent human rights watchdog, today’s vote is the perfect illustration,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

“Because of the ‘automatic majority,’ Israel can’t get a fair hearing,” Harris continued. “Instead, Israel is held responsible for a conflict solely triggered by Hamas. That Hamas is a terrorist group that fires hundreds, if not thousands, of deadly missiles into Israel, that it seeks Israel’s annihilation, and that it uses its civilian population as human shields are all deemed immaterial. Shame on the UN Human Rights Council! Bravo to the United States for standing up for principle and integrity.”

The resolution describes Israel as the “occupying power,” though Israel left Gaza in 2005 and gave local residents their first chance in history – something no other nation had ever done – to chart their own destiny. It also calls for establishing a “commission of inquiry,” reminiscent of the ill-fated and one-sided Goldstone Commission created after the Israel-Hamas war in 2008-9, whose report was eventually repudiated in large part by Judge Richard Goldstone himself.

“Fact: The UN Human Rights Council has focused more on Israel than any other nation on earth,” Harris added. “Fact: The UN Human Rights Council has blithely ignored egregious human rights violations in those parts of the world that don’t suit the interests of the ‘automatic majority.’ Fact: The UN Human Rights Council discredits itself by this selective and skewed focus. And fact: The UN Human Rights Council has set back the cause of Arab-Israeli peace by empowering Hamas, an avowedly terrorist group.”