(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)

Minister of Foreign Affiars Avigdor Liberman met today (Monday 29 September 2014) with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

In their meeting, FM Liberman and Prince Zaid discussed the working relationship between Israel and the Commission. FM Liberman stated that there is a fundamental difference between the conduct of the UN Commission on Human Rights and that of the Human Rights Council. FM Liberman added that the Council is a political body dominated by countries hostile to Israel that violate the human rights on a regular basis, and that the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Council to examine the conflict in Gaza is a committee guided only by its own hypocrisy and the slandering of Israel. Its conclusions are known in advance; they are not related to any reality. The Commission is headed by William Schabas who has no interest in the study of truth, but only in the defamation of Israel.

FM Liberman told Prince Zaid that Israel is prepared to cooperate with any fair and professional UN committees, and is willing to present the pertinent facts. However, with regard to the current committee, this is pointless.

FM Liberman also raised the issue of employment of Israelis by the Human Rights Commission, and noted that there is room to incorporate more Israelis in the Commission.