United States Joining United Nations Human Rights Council

A few weeks ago the Obama administration announced that the United States will join the United Nations Human Rights Council. This move is a reversal of the Bush’s administration refusal to join the Council. The Bush administration refused to join the Council because of its repeated condemnations of Israel and its blind eyes to the events going on in the Sudan and its Darfur region. It also included the fact that the Council has refused to consider human rights violations by its own members. The Bush administration even went as far to say that the Council is not “a credible body.” I can only assume that Israel must be very disappointed (if not outraged) concerning the United States’ decision to join this council.

The United States will be seated at the same table with countries like; Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Angola. These countries have consistently failed to recognize human rights violations in countries like Darfur and North Korea. Yet, they have (without fail) continually brought condemnation upon the nation of Israel for defending itself against those who wish to destroy it; specifically Palestine. The Council not only appears to be blind, but deaf as well. It has yet to condemn the call by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad for Israel to be, “wiped off the map.” Anne Bayefsky has reported that the Council, "has adopted more condemnations of Israel than all the other 191 U.N. states combined, while terminating human rights investigations on the likes of Iran, Cuba and Belarus.” These are also reasons why the Bush administration refused to join this non-credible body.

The Obama administration has been intent from day one to reverse every Bush administration policy concerning the United States and its relations with other countries. Yet, it is has neglected its most important ally; Israel. In joining the United Nations Human Rights Council the United States has distanced itself even further (if not completely severed its relationship) from Israel. The Bush administration saw that this council was incapable of successfully defending human rights because of overt hostility towards Israel; so he refused to join. Yet, the Obama administration has seemed to close its eyes and withdraw its hand of solidarity concerning our friendship and alliance with Israel. This move by the Obama administration should be of great concern to all Christians and to all Americans. And this action would hopefully cause us to fall upon our faces and pray.

“And My people who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land” – 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Shalom.