WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12) issued the following statement on the United Nations Human Rights Council report on the Gaza conflict:

“The UN Human Rights Council’s report on last summer’s conflict in the Gaza Strip continues the Council’s blatant bias against Israel. The report was unfairly critical of Israel while at the same time it fails to condemn Hamas’ terrorist tactics. The report said nothing about Hamas’ indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israel, their use of underground tunnels to launch attacks against Israel and their storage of missiles at hospitals and schools. The report also recommends the International Criminal Court, which has a clear bias against Israel, conduct an investigation into Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.

“I have been very vocal with my concerns regarding the UN Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court.  I included language in the Fiscal Year 2016 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill to address these concerns. The bill prohibits the UN Human Rights Council from receiving taxpayer dollars unless the Secretary of State determines and reports that participation in the Council is in the national security interest of the United States and that the Council is taking significant steps to remove Israel as a permanent agenda item. In addition, the bill prohibits economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority if they initiate or actively support an International Criminal Court investigation that subjects Israeli nationals to an investigation for alleged crimes against Palestinians. 

“I urge the Administration to adamantly oppose this biased account against Israel and support Israel’s right to defend itself. Should this come up for a vote, members of the UN Human Rights Council must also stand up against such blatant bias and vote against this report.”

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