U.S. Thwarted in Bid to Change U.N. "Human Rights" Council's Biased Approach to Israel

"Nearly a year ago, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, issued an ultimatum to the U.N.: reform the U.N. Human Rights Council with a view to easing its criticism of Israel, or face an American walkout.

But a diplomatic campaign by Washington to bring about such a reform ran aground this month, as key European allies said they would not support a vote at the U.N. General Assembly on ending the rights council's special scrutiny of Israel.

The development leaves Haley diplomatically isolated on a key American priority and increases the likelihood that the United States will withdraw from yet another international institution that enjoys the backing of Washington's key allies, according to several U.N.-based diplomats.

'They seem to be headed for the exit,' said one European diplomat involved in the discussions with the United States.

Kelley Currie, the U.S. representative to the U.N. for social and economic affairs, hosted two meetings at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations with a group of Western governments earlier this month to detail U.S. plans.

She presented a copy of a U.S. draft General Assembly resolution that would eliminate a special category of rights violations - known as Agenda Item 7 - committed in occupied Palestinian territories. No other part of the world has its own agenda item. The U.S. resolution is part of a broader streamlining effort that would also make it easier to expel countries that abuse human rights from the council. There were no takers..."