UK urged to oppose all anti-Israel resolutions at UN meeting

The foreign office has been urged to oppose all anti-Israel resolutions at the forthcoming United Nations Human Rights Council meeting.

The government has previously committed to oppose permanent agenda Item 7 on the council. 

But during a meeting with Conservative Friends of Israel (CFOI) this week, MPs expressed concern about “other hostile resolutions.. including the ‘Accountability’ resolution tabled under Item 2”.

Following the meeting, CFOI  wrote to Middle East minister James Cleverly, saying “raised concerns over the International Criminal Court ruling at a pre-trial hearing that it has territorial jurisdiction to open a probe into allegations of war crimes in West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. We urged the UK to voice opposition to this ruling publicly.”. 

It also brought up UK policy towards Iran and its “destabilising regional activities as well as its nuclear programme”, calling for Israel and regional Arab partners to be included in the process. 

Earlier in the month, a Jewish News investigation revealed antisemitism and incitement in UK-funded Palestinian textbooks. The letter says Britain must “not turn a blind eye” to incitement in the education system, calling for Britain to hold a review of material it funds 

The letter was signed by 15 MPs and two peers, including CFI parliamentary chairs in the Lords and Commons as well as Honorary President, Lord Polak.