Following are statistics compiled by UN Watch concerning the UN’s treatment of Israel.
U.N. Proportionality
Summary
- UN Human Rights Council: From its creation in June 2006 through June 2016, the UN Human Rights Council over one decade adopted 135 resolutions criticizing countries; 68 out of those 135 resolutions have been against Israel (more than 50%). Details below.
- UN Nations General Assembly: From 2012 through 2015, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted 97 resolutions criticizing countries; 83 out of those 97 have been against Israel (86%). Details below.
- UNESCO: Each year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopts around 10 resolutions a year criticizing only Israel. UNESCO does not criticize any other UN member state in a country-specific resolution (100%). An exception occurred in 2013, when, under pressure from UN Watch, UNESCO adopted one resolution on Syria.
- World Health Organization: For one week every year, the UN World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), meets to formulate global health policy. Resolutions are adopted to address global health issues. There is one exception: the annual resolution entitled “Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan,” which singles out Israel for condemnation; no other country in the world is condemned by the WHO.
- ILO: The International Labour Organization (ILO) was established to improve conditions of labor, regulate work hours, fight unemployment, assure adequate living wages, and protect workers worldwide. At its annual conference, however, the ILO produces a single country-specific report castigating Israel.
Detail
UN General Assembly
Below are statistics regarding the UN General Assembly’s treatment of Israel. Click the links for more detail.
- In 2017, 21 of 27 UNGA condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 78%) exclusively targeted Israel. There was one resolution each on Iran, Syria, North Korea, Crimea, Myanmar, and the U.S., for its embargo on Cuba.
- In 2016, 20 of 26 UNGA condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 77%) exclusively targeted Israel. There were 3 on Syria, and one each on Iran, North Korea, and Crimea.
- In 2015, 20 of 23 UNGA condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 87%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2014, 20 of 23 UNGA condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 87%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2013, 21 of 25 UNGA condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 84%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2012, 22 of 26 UNGA condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 85%) exclusively targeted Israel.
From 2012 through 2015, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a total of 97 resolutions criticizing countries; 83 out of those 97 have been against Israel (86%) .
UN Human Rights Council
The UN Human Rights Council (HRC), comprised of 47 UN member states, holds three sessions a year, in March, June and September. Below are statistics for its first 10 years since its establishment, from June 2006 to June 2016, on the HRC’s treatment of Israel. Click on the links for detail.
- In 2016, at the 31st and 32nd sessions of the HRC, 5 out of 12 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 42%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2015, at the 28th, 29th and 30th sessions of the HRC, 5 out of 14 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 36%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2014, at the 25th, 26th and 27th sessions of the HRC, 6 out of 14 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 43%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2013, at the 22nd, 23rd and 24th sessions of the HRC, 6 out of 15 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 40%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2012, at the 19th, 20th and 21st sessions of the HRC, 5 out of 16 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 31%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2011, at the 16th, 17th and 18th sessions of the HRC, 6 out of 15 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 40%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In 2010, at the 13th, 14th and 15th sessions of the HRC, 8 out of 11 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 73%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In its third year, from June 2008 to Dec 2009, 8 out of 14 condemnatory country-specific resolutions (or 57%) exclusively targeted Israel.
- In its second year, from June 2007 to May 2008, 10 out of 15 condemnatory resolutions exclusively targeted Israel.
- In its first year, from June 2006 to May 2007, 9 out of 9 condemnatory resolutions exclusively targeted Israel.
From its creation in June 2006 through June 2016, the UNHRC over one decade adopted 135 resolutions criticizing countries; 68 out of those 135 have been against Israel (more than 50%).
Methodology
UN Watch examined all resolutions that condemned or criticized a specific country, expressly or by implication. Resolutions that included praise for the country concerned, or which were adopted under the non-condemnatory rubric of “technical cooperation,” did not qualify.
Resources
- The Demonization of Israel at the United Nations in Europe (2014) – on the bias of UNHRC, UNESCO, WHO, and ILO
- The UN and Anti-Semitism (2007) – UN Watch report, includes analysis of UNGA resolutions
- Eleanor’s Dream (2008) – UN Watch report analyzing second year of UNHRC
- Dawn of A New Era (2007) – UN Wat
For more UN Watch reports, click here
CNN’s Jake Tapper on UN Watch statistics:
Ben Shapiro on UN Watch statistics:
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador Faisal bin Hassan Trad (left) was selected in 2015 to become Chair of the UN Human Rights Council panel on choosing UN rights experts. Mr. Michael Møller (right) is the Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Photo by Pierre Albouy.