RAMALLAH, June 20, 2018 (WAFA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates denounced in a statement on Wednesday the United States decision to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council saying the decision exposes US bias toward Israel at all costs.

“The withdrawal of the United States from the Human Rights Council exposes the extent to which this Administration is willing to go to shield Israel, the occupying Power from accountability,” it said. “The rules-based international system, which the Human Rights Council is an integral part of, is based on the universality of human rights and the obligation of all states to respect human rights. The fact that this administration considers the Council biased because it is attempting to do its job in relation to Palestinian human rights further demonstrates this administration‘s determination to be part of the conflict and to put its political weight behind one side at the expense of Palestinian lives and rights.”

The ministry said that “this additional step of bias against Palestinian rights will only further embolden Israel to persist in its egregious human rights violations and entrench the culture of impunity that perpetuates these injustices.”

It added: “It is no surprise that an administration that has made of stepping back from international law while supporting the illegal Israeli colonial agenda on the world stage one of its policy hallmarks is withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council. However, we trust that this will neither affect the Council nor the determination of its members to honor the principles and values of international law, particularly international humanitarian and human rights laws.”

The Foreign Ministry called on all members to show increasing commitment to respect and ensure respect for human rights and international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. “Palestine is not and will not be the exception to the law, despite the cynical attempts to that end,” it said.

M.K.