ISRAEL OPPOSES IRANIAN CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001720

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016
TAGS: PHUM KUNR PREL IR IS UNGA UNHRC GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: ISRAEL OPPOSES IRANIAN CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL

REF: A) STATE 68575 B) STATE 66050 C) TEL AVIV 1421

Classified By: Political Counselor Norman Olsen; Reasons 1.4 (B and D).


1. (C) Poloff shared appropriate reftel (B) points with
Daniel Meron, the MFA's director for human rights and
international organizations, on April 28 and discussed the
issue again after receipt of reftel (A) on May 2. Meron said
the GOI strongly opposes Iran's candidacy for the U.N. Human
Rights Council. He accused Iran of repeatedly rejecting the
most basic human rights, including the right to life, by
calling for the destruction of the State of Israel. Meron
added that the MFA has raised the issue with the Canadians
and French, but is not lobbying widely. He noted that
Israel's position is generally known and the GOI believes
that active lobbying by Israel might be counterproductive in
efforts to convince some European and moderate Arab states to
vote against Iran.


2. (C) Meron said he "hopes and expects" that Iran will be
the first country to undergo a peer review by other UNHRC
members if it wins election to the Council.


3. (C) Meron reiterated that the MFA would welcome USG views
on other prospective candidates to assist the GOI in its
voting decisions. He suggested that the May 9-14 visit by
A/S Silverberg and DAS Lagon might be an appropriate
opportunity to do so.

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