AJC Condemns UN Human Rights Council Flotilla Vote

NEW YORK, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee condemned a resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council which authorizes "an independent international fact-finding mission" into Israel's interception of ships bound for Gaza organized by the pro-Hamas "Free Gaza" movement.

"The UN Human Rights Council remains a kangaroo court, in which repressive and authoritarian states like Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan can indulge their obsession with Israel, while ignoring serial violators such as Iran and North Korea," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Fresh from convicting Israel through the notoriously biased Goldstone Report into the war in Gaza, which presumed Israel's 'guilt' before launching a fact-finding mission, the Council is now embarking on a new attempt to vilify Israel."

Thirty-two states voted in favor of the resolution, with 9 abstaining and 3 voting against. "We are proud and grateful that our country, the United States, voted against this disgraceful resolution. We also express our deepest thanks to Italy and The Netherlands, who refused to bow to the demand that Israel be targeted again by the Council," said Harris.

Speaking before the vote, the U.S. delegate to the council stated that the resolution rushed to judgment on a set of facts which were only starting to be understood and so risked further politicizing the situation. The delegate of The Netherlands expressed regret that the majority of the proposals of the European Union were not incorporated into the resolution and urged the Council not go over and beyond the course of action recommended by the UN Security Council.

The UN Human Rights Council has passed five resolutions condemning Israel so far this year. Meanwhile, the Council has remained silent on the Iranian regime's human rights abuses. On June 12, Iran will mark the first anniversary of the election stolen by President Ahmadinejad through a campaign of violent repression.

Voting Record for UN Human Rights Council A/HRC/14/L.1, "Grave Attacks by Israeli Forces against the Humanitarian Boat Convoy."

• In favour (32): Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, and Uruguay.
• Against (3): Italy, Netherlands, and United States of America.
• Abstentions (9): Belgium, Burkina Faso, France, Hungary, Japan, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee