World

When, not if: US poised to quit UN's human rights council

15 of June 2018

American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, center, speaks to other members of the Security Council before posing for a photo wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams, Thursday, June 14, 2018, at United Nations headquarters. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, who is the current president of the Security Council, organized the photo op in honor of the first day of the World Cup Soccer championship. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer),American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, center, speaks to other members of the Security Council before posing for a photo wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams, Thursday, June 14, 2018, at United Nations headquarters. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, who is the current president of the Security Council, organized the photo op in honor of the first day of the World Cup Soccer championship. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

GENEVA (AP) — Diplomats say the United States is about to quit the United Nation’s main human rights body, primarily over Washington’s claim that the Human Rights Council is biased against Israel.

The move would be the Trump administration’s latest snub of the international community. The U.S. State Department said Friday no decision has been made to leave.

But diplomats who requested anonymity said it appears more a matter of when, not if, the pullout threatened last year by the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, will happen.

Never in the 12 years of the council has a serving member dropped out voluntarily. Seven years ago, in the midst of the Arab Spring, Moammar Gadhafi’s Libya was kicked out with the approval of the U.N. General Assembly, which has final say.