Even as a bitter U.S.-Israel dispute over a possible Iran deal was expected to heat up in Washington later Monday, Kerry affirmed America's steadfast commitment to its top Mideast ally and called on the council to take a more balanced approach toward Israel. The council frequently targets Israel for criticism in resolutions and investigations, notably over military action it has taken against Palestinian militants in Gaza. A new report commissioned by the council about last year's Gaza war is expected to be released later this month.
In a speech denouncing rights abuses in places like Syria, North Korea and Ukraine, Kerry spent several minutes on what he called the council's "deeply concerning record on Israel."
"No one in this room can deny that there is an unbalanced focus on one democratic country," he said, decrying the fact that no country other than Israel has a permanent agenda item on the council's schedule. "The (council's) obsession with Israel actually risks undermining the credibility of the entire organization."
Kerry and other U.S, officials have said the Obama administration's commitment to Israel's defense is unbreakable. On Sunday, and again at the council on Monday, Kerry noted the administration has intervened to protect Israel from condemnation at the United Nations and other international forums several hundred times in the last two years. And he reiterated that pledge, saying the U.S. would continue to oppose any attempt to "delegitimize" or otherwise unfairly target Israel in any part of the UN system.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.644960
I know that this would be blasted here on DU, but that it was not covered in an article that at least implicitly dealt with the relationship with Israel -- and noted that Kerry went there on the very day that Netanyahu came her -- shows a willingness to be used by Netanyahu.
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