UN diplomat critisises Israel for skipping human rights review

Israel has become the first nation to skip a UN review of its human rights record without giving a reason.

The president of the UN’s top rights body, Polish diplomat Remigiusz Henczel, declared Israel a no-show at a meeting in Geneva and then reconvened the 47-nation Human Rights Council to decide what to do.

Israel had asked Mr Henczel to postpone the review but did not provide a public explanation.

“This is a rather unique step which has never happened in the past,” said German UN ambassador Hanns Heinrich Schumacher.

But after a’ debate, the council unanimously agreed to defer the review until its next session in October and November at the latest.

Mr Henczel said the compromise would set a precedent for “how to deal with all cases of non-cooperation” in the future.

Israel’s absence comes as it is forming a new governing coalition following last week’s parliamentary election.