Malcolm Hoenlein
Malcolm HoenleinFlash 90

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Chairman Stephen M. Greenberg, and Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Malcolm Hoenlein charged UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein with abusing his authority by communicating directly with companies to inform them they are on a "blacklist" of firms doing business in or with Israeli businesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.

The "blacklist" was compiled through an undisclosed process overseen by the High Commissioner and his staff, pursuant to a blatantly anti-Israel resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council in March 2016.

"Despite the limits of the terms of the blatantly anti-Israel 'blacklist' resolution, and over strong objections from the United States and others, the High Commissioner continues to abuse the authority of his office. By notifying companies they are on the 'blacklist,' the High Commissioner is actively abetting the Council’s unwarranted discriminatory campaign to coerce international businesses to cease doing business with Israeli companies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank," Greenberg and Hoenlein said.

"The High Commissioner’s complicity in the campaign that essentially endorses a boycott targeting Israel, gives official UN cover to the unrestrained bias against Israel in the international body, fans the flames of discord, and interferes with prospects for peace in the Middle East, calling into question his objectivity, judgment and ability to carry out his duties as a protector of human rights.

"Once again, we call on responsible member states in the Human Rights Council, UN Secretary General Guterres and others committed to justice, an effective UN and peace in the Middle East to forcefully speak out against these actions by the High Commissioner."

Israel is automatically the 7th item on the agenda of every HRC meeting. There have been 70 resolutions against Israel passed by the HRC, as contrasted with almost none against real human rights abusers. US delegate Nikki Haley has threatened to stop US funding for the commission if this is not remedied and Vice President Mike Pence recently said that the HRC does not deserve its name.