Israel Withdraws from UN Human Rights Council Amid Ongoing Discrimination

In a significant move on Wednesday, Israel announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar emphasizing the country's longstanding frustrations with the body's bias and anti-Israel sentiment.

This decision came just a day after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the UNHRC. The two nations' shared stance on the matter highlights a growing dissatisfaction with the UNHRC's treatment of Israel and its policies.

Israel's Frustration with the UNHRC

Minister Sa'ar condemned the UNHRC for what he described as a pattern of protecting human rights abusers and allowing them to evade scrutiny, while relentlessly attacking Israel. He pointed out that the Council's focus had shifted from promoting human rights to targeting the only democracy in the Middle East, propagating antisemitism in the process.

According to Sa'ar, Israel is the only country in the world with an agenda item dedicated exclusively to it in the UNHRC. The country has faced over 100 condemnatory resolutions in the Council, which constitutes over 20% of all resolutions ever passed—more than those directed at countries like Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela combined.

Sa'ar’s statement concluded with a firm declaration: "Israel will not accept this discrimination any longer!" This move signals Israel's commitment to standing firm against the ongoing bias within international organizations like the UNHRC.

The US Withdrawal and Broader Implications

Following Israel’s withdrawal, the United States also took a firm stand, with President Trump signing an executive order on Tuesday to remove the US from both the UNHRC and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The move reflects growing frustration with the UN's handling of human rights issues and its disproportionate focus on attacking allies, particularly Israel.

Trump’s executive order also highlighted concerns over US funding to the UN, with the administration noting that the organization had drifted from its founding mission of preventing global conflicts. Instead, some UN bodies, according to the statement, were now acting contrary to the interests of the United States and supporting policies that undermine its allies and propagate anti-Semitism.