Israel says it has severed contacts with the United Nations Human Rights Council after its launch last week of an international investigation into Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The decision, announced by a foreign ministry spokesman, meant that the fact- finding team the council planned to send to the West Bank will not be allowed to enter the territory or Israel, according to the spokesman, Yigal Palmor.
“We are not working with them any more,” Mr Palmor said about the Geneva-based forum.
“We had been participating in meetings, discussions, arranging visits to Israel. All that is over.”
The international investigation was launched on Thursday, with the United States isolated in voting against the initiative brought by the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli leaders swiftly condemned the UN body, saying it was hypocritical and biased against Israel, Mr Palmor said yesterday.
He added that Israel would continue to co-operate with other UN bodies. – (Reuters)