Foreign Minister Gideon Saar declared Wednesday that Israel will withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), aligning with the United States' stance of non-participation in the organization. In a pointed critique, Saar characterized the council as a platform that systematically undermines Israel's diplomatic standing while failing to address genuine human rights concerns globally.
Saar argued forcefully that the council serves as a mechanism for protecting human rights violators, enabling them to evade international scrutiny. He specifically condemned the body for "obsessively demonizing the one democracy in the Middle East - Israel," rather than genuinely addressing worldwide human rights challenges.
Israel welcomes President Trump's decision not to participate in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Israel joins the United States and will not participate in the UNHRC.The UNHRC has traditionally protected human rights abusers by allowing them to hide from scrutiny, and…
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) February 5, 2025
The most striking statistic Saar presented was the disproportionate number of condemnatory resolutions targeting Israel. Over 100 resolutions have been passed against the country, representing more than 20% of all council resolutions – a number that surpasses the combined total of resolutions against Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela. Moreover, Israel remains the only nation with a dedicated agenda item, which Saar views as clear evidence of institutional bias.
By withdrawing from the council, Israel sends a powerful diplomatic message about its unwillingness to participate in what it considers a fundamentally prejudiced international mechanism. Saar's announcement reflects a broader strategy of challenging what Israel perceives as systemic discrimination within multilateral institutions.
