State Department claims UN Human Rights Council agenda item reveals bias against Israel

The U.S. Department of State has expressed its opposition to item No. 7 of the U.N. Human Rights Council agenda. The item in question includes wording that claims Israel is occupying Arab territories and references Palestine.

State Department spokesperson Mark Toner put out a statement earlier this week suggesting the wording was another reminder that the U.N. had a bias against Israel.

“No other nation has an entire agenda item dedicated to it at the Council," the announcement said. "The continued existence of this agenda item is among the largest threats to the credibility of the Council.”

As a result of their opposition, the U.S. did not attend the Council’s general debate session for the item.

“It does not serve the interests of the Council to single out one country in an unbalanced matter,” according to the announcement.

The statement also indicated that the U.S. would vote against every resolution under the agenda item and hoped that other countries would vote the same.

“The U.S. is dedicated to the pursuit of respect for international human rights by all countries in the world and we call on all U.N. member states and international partners who are committed to human rights to work with us to pursue much-needed reforms in the U.N. Human Rights Council,” the announcement added.