ADDITIONAL GOI CONCERNS WITH THE UNHRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000900 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC IS SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL GOI CONCERNS WITH THE UNHRC REF: USUN 0218 Classified By: Acting DCM Marc Sievers. Reasons 1.4 (B and D). (C) In discussions with poloff on other issues March 21, MFA Office Director for Human Rights and International Organizations Daniel Meron complained vehemently that the UN Human Rights Council is "getting worse every session." Echoing points made by A/S-equivalent Ronny Ya'ar to USG officials in New York (reftel),Meron listed several Israeli concerns. First, the GOI accuses Special Rapporteur John Dugard of pursuing "his own political and personal agendas" in filing what they describe as biased reports. Second, Israel is concerned that an OIC resolution on the Mughrabi Gate will accuse the GOI of failing to respect freedom of religion. Third, the GOI is worried that the Mughrabi Gate and Beit Hanoun resolutions will pass by consensus. Meron noted that EU states have told the GOI that they would oppose these texts if a vote is called, but would not initiate a vote themselves. The GOI is planning to present a demarche in Ottawa urging Canada to call for such votes. Finally, the GOI is concerned that ongoing discussions on the UNHRC agenda at the working group level will create a situation in which anti-Israeli resolutions become an institutionalized and permanent part of the UNHRC agenda. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES