Jerusalem [Israel]: A day after US President Donald Trump announced America’s withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar, declared on Wednesday that Israel would follow suit and not participate in the UNHRC.
Sa’ar expressed support for Trump’s decision, calling it a necessary step.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Sa’ar said:
“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.”
He criticized the UNHRC, stating:
“This body has traditionally protected human rights abusers by allowing them to hide from scrutiny, and instead obsessively demonizes the one democracy in the Middle East—Israel. This body has focused on attacking a democratic country and propagating antisemitism, instead of promoting human rights.”
Sa’ar further claimed:
“The discrimination against us is clear: In the UNHRC, Israel is the only country with an agenda item dedicated solely to it. Israel has been subjected to over 100 condemnatory resolutions—more than against Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela combined. Israel will not accept this discrimination any longer!”
Trump’s Announcement
The US President announced America’s withdrawal from the “anti-Semitic” UNHRC and also from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), citing allegations of links with Hamas.
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, DC, Trump stated:
“I’m also pleased to announce that this afternoon the United States withdrew from the anti-Semitic UN Human Rights Council and ended all support for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which funneled money to Hamas and was very disloyal to humanity.”
Trump also announced the restoration of the “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, vowing to reimpose aggressive sanctions, reduce Iranian oil exports to zero, and limit the regime’s capacity to fund terrorism.
Netanyahu’s US Visit
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the United States on Sunday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement and Middle East policy with Trump, Al Jazeera reported.
Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet US military leaders and members of Congress over the coming days to discuss regional security and future diplomatic strategies.
During the joint press conference, Trump emphasized:
“The bonds of friendship and affection between the American and Israeli people have endured for generations, and they are absolutely unbreakable.”