Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Comment
Kenneth Roth

The US won’t run for another term on UN human rights council. Israel is likely why

United Nations Joe Biden Human Rights United States Human Rights Council Israel Donald Trump Washington the General Assembly War Crimes
a man on screen gives a speech as a room of people look on
US secretary of state Antony Blinken appears on a screen during a UN human rights council session in Geneva, Switzerland, on 1 March 2022. Photograph: Salvatore Di Nolfi/KEYSTONE/AFP/Getty Images

Something unusual happened this week at the UN: the US government decided not to run for a second term on the human rights council. Taking a year off is mandatory after a country serves two three-year terms, but the Biden administration chose to bow out after a single term. That is extremely unusual. What happened?

Various rationales are circulating, but one, in my view, looms large: Israel. Or more to the point, Joe Biden’s refusal to suspend or condition the massive US arms sales and military aid to Israel as its military bombs and starves the Palestinian civilians of Gaza.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Why Is There So Much Liquid in Packaged Chicken?
If you have ever opened a package of raw chicken and found a puddle of liquid inside, you are not alone. The amount can sometimes be surprising, especially when the chicken looks like it is sitting in water. However, that liquid does not necessarily mean the chicken is spoiled or…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
LeBron James is everything Philadelphia wants. And everything it can’t stand
The city has embraced its new superstar with open arms, even as he choppers in from Manhattan and makes no secret of the fact that Philadelphia was never his first choice
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Geordie Greep denies sexual assault allegations from stage in Vancouver
While some heard the former Black Midi frontman out, others made for the exit as he addressed accusations
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
A woman goes to pour Walmart chicken broth dated 2027, but something is clogging the spout: ‘What the heck is that?’
That’s not how broth pours.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
A man buys three limited-edition BrüMate cups at Target after two failed trips, then says a woman stopped him on the way out and demanded them back
Didn't see that coming.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
‘He was just a baby’: A cat owner says his hair-loss treatment cost him his 2-year-old cat, and he’s warning others about minoxidil
Should come with a warning label.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play