Explanation of Vote on the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on the “Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”
Statement as Delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor
Delegation of the United States of America
Human Rights Council – 49th Session
April 1, 2022
Thank you, Mr. President
The United States strongly and unequivocally opposes the Human Rights Council’s biased Agenda Item 7. The continued existence of this agenda item calls into question the credibility of this body. None of the world’s worst human rights violators, some of whom are the subject of resolutions at this session, have their own stand-alone agenda item at this Council. Only Israel receives such treatment. For these reasons, the United States must oppose the annual group of resolutions under Agenda Item 7, which are biased against Israel. Further, we strongly reject the characterization voiced by some that Israel’s actions constitute apartheid.
One-sided resolutions distract from efforts to advance peace. The United States is committed to a negotiated two-state solution and believes that Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live safely and securely and enjoy equal measures of security, freedom, and prosperity. The United States will continue to oppose every effort to delegitimize Israel. For these reasons, we call a vote on this Item 7 resolution, and we urge our fellow Members to join us in voting “no”.
I thank you