The UN and Israel

Thank you for contacting me about the UN and Israel.

You are absolutely right that the British Government is proud of the role the UK played in the birth of the state of Israel. I am encouraged that, following an invitation from the Prime Minister, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will be visiting the UK on the centenary of the Balfour declaration.

I am aware that there have been a number of country-specific resolutions passed regarding Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The UK Government does not support the singling out of Israel, nor the politicisation of UN institutions by the Palestinians.

UK has already warned the UN Human Rights Council over its disproportionate bias against Israel. The persistence of bias, particularly the disproportionate volume of resolutions against Israel, undermines the Council’s credibility as the objective human rights body we all want and need.

I am pleased that the UK co-hosted a meeting on reform of the UN Human Rights Council during the recent UN General Assembly, where it was agreed that reform is urgently needed to ensure that the Council’s status as a respected advocate for human rights is secured.

I recently attending a Jewish Council meeting with Baron Finkelstein, OBE which was most enlightening. You can be assured of my goodwill towards the State of Israel.