Free Republic

Israel has been accepted to join the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Maariv reported Thursday. The international body infamous for condemning the Jewish state will now add it to the list of 9 Western states. The move is a complete about-face for the UNHRC, which in its 5-year history has condemned Israel over 46 times—more than any other nation in the world. The UNHRC was also the body that appointed the Goldstone Commission’s investigation of “Operation Cast Lead” in the December 2008–January 2009 Gaza War, eventually concluding that Israel had committed war crimes. While Judge Richard Goldstone rescinded parts...

The United States and Germany won a closely contested race Monday among western nations for UN Human Rights Council seats, while the likes of Venezuela and Pakistan secured places without a competitive vote. Rights groups condemned the “pre-cooked” arrangements by most continental groups at the 193-member UN General Assembly which gave council seats to countries whose records have been widely questioned. The United States, Germany and Ireland won the only open election among western nations. …