GENEVA: A UN rights expert issued a blistering criticism of Israel鈥檚 policies on Monday, deepening a row over alleged anti-Israel bias within the UN following US pressure.
In a report, Michael Lynk, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, charged Israel with 鈥渢he subjugation of (Palestinians鈥�) humanity鈥� and intensifying a crackdown on human rights campaigners.
Lynk made the claims in a report presented to the UN rights council during the Geneva-based body鈥檚 mandated session on Israel, known as Agenda Item Seven.
Israel is the only country targeted with a dedicated rights council agenda item.
Israel and its supporters, notably in Washington, have repeatedly highlighted Agenda Item Seven as evidence of the council鈥檚 credibility gap, arguing it cannot be effective while disproportionately targeting Israel.
President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration has taken those concerns to the next level, with top diplomat Rex Tillerson publicly threatening to withdraw from the council over its 鈥渂iased agenda item against Israel.鈥�
The State Department blasted the council again Monday for holding its Israel debate and vowed in a statement 鈥渢o vote against every resolution put forth under this agenda item.鈥�
Washington also boycotted Monday鈥檚 event that saw a group of majority Muslim nations repeatedly denounce Israel鈥檚 treatment of the Palestinians.
The European Union condemned the continuing loss of life on all sides but voiced concern that Lynk鈥檚 mandate and the Israel debate was one-sided.
Lynk鈥檚 scathing findings were issued days after UN official Rima Khalaf resigned over another report in which she accused Israel of being an 鈥渁partheid state.鈥�