New York, N.Y., March 12, 2002 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on member states of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to reject one-sided condemnations of Israel on the agenda at the 58th session of the commission on March 18, saying "adoption of these resolutions would continue a pattern of politicization and misuse of international human rights mechanisms."

Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We have grown increasingly alarmed by the blatant singling out of Israel for condemnation by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Unfortunately, this unabashed focus on Israel undermines the integrity of this vital body, and risks jeopardizing important international involvement in human rights crises around the world.

At the upcoming 58th session of the Commission, an entire agenda item is devoted to Israel, whereas 188 other countries are dealt with together in a single agenda item, and, as in past years, the Commission is set to deliberate on five highly anti-Israel resolutions. Any one-sided effort by the Commission is counterproductive to the effort to encourage an end to violence in the region and the resumption of bilateral negotiations for a better and more secure future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

It is in response to this potentially egregious situation that we strongly urge all member states to refrain from supporting the adoption of these resolutions, as they would continue a pattern of politicization and misuse of international human rights mechanisms.

The Commission on Human Rights is the United Nations' chief forum for deliberating the status of human rights around the world. During the previous session, five out of 16 resolutions on human rights violations in specific regions targeted Israel. Human rights situations in nations like China, Saudi Arabia and Algeria were not dealt with. The recent ouster of the U.S., and inclusion of Syria as a member nation, also raises serious questions about the direction the Commission on Human Rights is heading.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.