A United Nations meeting on June 20 included a direct exchange between Israel’s ambassador and other participants regarding a UN report that lists Israel in an annex concerning conflict-related sexual violence. Israel’s representative accused the UN of unfair treatment following the publication of the document.
The discussion occurred during a formal session at the UN headquarters. According to news reports from the meeting, Israel’s ambassador stated that the country was being unfairly targeted by the international body. The exchange reportedly grew tense, with the Israeli ambassador directing another representative to “be quiet.”
The context for the meeting was the recent release of an annual report by the UN Secretary-General. The report’s annex lists parties that the UN has found credible evidence of committing acts of sexual violence during armed conflict. The inclusion of the Israeli military in this annex prompted the response from the nation’s ambassador.
This annual report is part of a UN mechanism designed to monitor and document grave violations in conflict zones around the world. The process involves verification of incidents by UN personnel on the ground. Parties listed in the annex are subject to increased monitoring and are called upon by the UN to implement measures to prevent future violations.
The Israeli government has not issued a formal statement in response to the report outside of the ambassador’s comments at the meeting. The specific allegations detailed in the UN report that led to Israel’s inclusion have not been made public in their entirety. The United Nations has not commented on the specific exchange that took place during the June 20 session.
