US steps up threat to quit UN rights council

The United States warned today that it was losing patience and again threatened to quit the UN Human Rights Council after the Geneva-based body adopted five resolutions condemning Israel.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement that the council was "grossly biased against Israel," noting that it had adopted only three resolutions separately targeting North Korea, Iran and Syria.

"When the Human Rights Council treats Israel worse than North Korea, Iran, and Syria, it is the council itself that is foolish and unworthy of its name," said Haley.

"Our patience is not unlimited. Today's actions make clear that the organisation lacks the credibility needed to be a true advocate for human rights," she said.

Haley has over the past year repeatedly warned that the United States was ready to walk away from the 47-member body established in 2006 to promote and protect human rights worldwide.

The five resolutions were presented by the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation under the council's "agenda item 7" which concerns Israel.

Israel is the only country that has a dedicated agenda item at the council, a mechanism that the United States and some European countries view as inappropriate.

The latest threat to quit the council came after President Donald Trump appointed UN-sceptic John Bolton as his national security adviser.

Since Trump took over at the White House, the United States has quit the UN cultural agency UNESCO, cut UN funding and announced plans to quit the UN-backed Paris climate agreement.