Xinhua
March 23, 2012 - 12:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-03/23/c_131483720.htm


JERUSALEM, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed at United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday after it approved a fact-finding mission to Israel to probe into the effects of settlements on Palestinians.

UNHRC on Thursday voted in favor of sending a dispatch to the West Bank and East Jerusalem in order to evaluate Jewish settlements repercussions on Palestinian human rights.

Upon learning UNHRC's vote, Netanyahu had harsh words for the international body, which he said was a "hypocritical council with an automatic majority against Israel," according to an official statement released on Thursday evening.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized the decision in a letter to the press.

"(The resolution) is yet another surrealistic decision from the workshop of a council that is used as a tool to push for one-sided politicized moves instead of promoting human rights," the press release read.

UNHRC's resolution was passed with 63 votes in favor, 10 abstaining and one, the United States, opposing it.

Netanyahu complained about the council's "complete detachment from reality" after overseeing human rights in Syria and Iran.

"This council ought to be ashamed of itself. Until today, the council has made 91 decisions, 39 of which dealt with Israel, three with Syria and one with Iran," the press release said.




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