Israel, citing ‘bias,’ won’t cooperate with UN team probing crimes against Palestinians

Israel has formally announced it would not cooperate with a special commission formed by the United Nations. The United Nations human rights body is investigating reported abuse against Palestinians.

According to the Washington Post, the decision was delivered to the commission head, Navi Pillay, in a letter. The letter, which was signed by Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s ambassador the the U.N.

It read, “It is obvious to my country, as it should be to any fair-minded observer, that there is simply no reason to believe that Israel will receive reasonable, equitable and non-discriminatory treatment from the Council, or from this Commission of Inquiry.”

The council established the commission last May during the 11 day war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Over 260 Palestinians were killed, and 14 Israeli citizens. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said that the actions committed by Israel might be war crimes.

This is not the first time Israel has rejected international calls for investigations into its conduct during war and alleged abuse against Palestinians.

Israel has brushed some off as being motivated by antisemitism. Several human rights groups have commented that Israelis treatment of Palestinians amounts to apartheid. Israel continues to brush claims off as antisemitic.