New York, NY, January 13, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the latest anti-Israel resolution from the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling it, "Yet another example of the cancerous bias that pervades the Council."

Last week, the Human Rights Council (HRC) convened a special session in Geneva devoted to "The Grave Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including the recent aggression in the occupied Gaza Strip."  On January 12 the Council issued a resolution condemning "the Israeli ongoing military operation" and demanding Israel "stop the targeting of civilians and medical facilities."

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

It is extremely disturbing that a United Nations body that is mandated with upholding and protecting human rights in the international community cannot acknowledge the suffering of Israeli citizens in the face of Hamas extremism and terrorism.  The failure to even mention the devastating toll of Hamas terrorism on innocent civilians is yet another example of the cancerous bias that pervades the Human Rights Council.

 

The ludicrous claim that Israel deliberately targets civilians is further evidence of the Council's extreme prejudice.  It is sad that the Council repeatedly undermines its own credibility with its fixation on bashing Israel, and in adopting one-sided resolutions which lack any sense of moral clarity.  The Council views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through an anti-Israel lens.  We have come to expect nothing more from them.      

ADL applauded and welcomed Canada's vote against the resolution, calling it "an ethical stance against bias and an effort to uphold the sanctity of the Council's mandate."

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.