Delivered by Ambassador Eviatar Manor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN in Geneva
Interactive dialogue Item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

Thank you, Mr. President.

I have by now realized that this Council suffers from an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with Israel, which it cannot control, and that it repeatedly produces reports, resolutions and ID’s on my country. I should remind you that associated with this disorder is an increased risk of suicide. This Council will bring upon itself its own demise.

What this Council needs is behavioral therapy. The treatment includes exposure and ritual preventions. I suggest the Council exposes itself to some other pressing conflict areas with increased attention and a parallel reduction of the level of anxiety with which it considers Israel.

I would like to draw your attention to the statement delivered by the High Commissioner to the Council last Monday. He pointed you clearly towards your real priorities. UNHCR numbers are staggering: 4.8 million Syrian refugees, 13.8 million IDP’s in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. OCHA reports that 7.6 million people in Yemen have no food security and 14 million do not have access to medical facilities. The High Commissioner noted that ten hospitals and other medical units have been damaged or destroyed in Syria since January - and this Council will consider 6 reports and 5 resolutions on Israel? This is nothing but shameful and demonstrates total disregards for the human rights of millions.

The HRC can redeem itself. It can focus on the pressing human rights situations on our globe. It can devote its time, personnel and resources in direct proportion to the severity of the crises. If it does not, it risks ending like its predecessor, the Human Rights Commission, and bring about its own demise.

Thank you, Mr. President.