Berman condemns U.S. Council

Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, blasted the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday for condemning Israel while ignoring abuses throughout the rest of the world.

Calling the Council’s treatment of Israel ``hypocritical,’’ Berman said the group _ made up of countries with questionable human rights records themselves _ spend ``an inordinate amount of time vilifying Israel’’ while remaining silent on abuses from Uzbekistan to Zimbabwe.

``It has passed one-sided resolutions condemning Israeli human right violations in the Palestinian territories, called several `extraordinary’ sessions on Israeli actions in Lebanon and Gaza, and appointed successive `rapporteurs’ to investigate alleged Israeli `war crimes,’’’ he said.

Berman spoke as the House considered a resolution condemning the council. It passed 416-2.

Berman ``I stand here to criticize the Human Rights Council, simply because I know the UN can do better,’’ Berman said. ``I believe that while the Council is still in its infancy, we can help ensure that it develops into a respected and forceful champion of human rights—not simply another proxy in the vitriolic campaign against Israel.