Israel's Ambassador to the UN headquarters in Geneva, Aviva Raz Shechter, delivered a strong rebuke of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Sunday in her farewell address to the organization.
In a speech marked blunt truths, Shechter accused the council of unfairly targeting Israel and attempting to foster "institutionalized ant-Semitism" through the notorious Agenda Item 7.
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Agenda item 7 is the only permanent item on the Council's agenda against a particular country. It targets Israel and Israel only. That agenda item requires Israel's record on human rights to be debated in practically every meeting of the council, essentially creating a platform to bash the Jewish state to a degree not shared by any other country.
In her speech before the UNHRC Shechter called it "nothing but a systematic mechanism of discrimination against Israel and Israelis, one deeply rooted in the culture of this council and of some of its member states."
Accusing the UNHRC of aiding and abetting Palestinian recalcitrance in accepting any peace plan, previous or upcoming, Shechter reminded the council of an important historical fact and the subsequent reality: "Let me remind you today, as I am reaching my end of term here, that the United Nations called for the creation of two states in November 1947. The UN resolution was accepted by the Jewish side and rejected by the Arab side. The Arab effort to deny and destroy the Jewish State started immediately – and for some, has never ceased... But the fact is – demonstrated over and over at the UN Human Rights Council and across the UN system – Palestinian leadership and its representatives prefer victimhood to peace, PR stunts to truth, blame games to taking responsibility either for what has been or what could be."
Shechter concluded her remarks with a message of hope for compromise. "I hope and pray, that we will find a sustainable compromise and enjoy better days ahead at home and in our region, despite your efforts, and not because of them."
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