Key Takeaways:
– President Donald Trump withdraws US support from UN Human Rights Council.
– He also suspends funding for UNRWA, which was set up to aid Palestinians.
– Secretary of State Marco Rubio asked to review international organizations promoting ‘radical or anti-American sentiment’.
– This move mirrors actions taken by Trump during his first term.
– The White House condemns the bias of UNHRC against Israel.
The Trump Sequel: Redrawing US Involvement in UN?
In a significant turn of events, President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the United States support from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This move reflects a similar stance taken by Trump during his first term in office between 2016 to 2020. The UNHRC has been accused in the past of providing cover to nations involved in human rights abuses.
Trump’s Pause on Palestinian Funding
The US President also put a hold on funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The UNRWA specifically provides financial assistance to Palestinians. Its employees were reported to be involved in a terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2024, which led to several of its staff being dismissed.
Where does the Funding End Up?
The UNRWA is dubbed the primary funder for the population in Gaza, a place under Hamas’ rule for several years. Trump’s decision comes after a revelation disclosed a possible involvement of UNRWA employees in the October terror attack.
UNHRC: Protector or Protectorate?
According to a White House fact sheet, the Human Rights Council has not lived up to its purpose and has rather served as a safety net for nations involved in grave human rights violations. The document specifically cites the repeated number of times the council has unfairly targeted Israel.
Bias against Israel?
Stamped as biased by the US, the UNHRC has displayed persistent prejudice against Israel, propositioning an uneven focus on it in its proceedings. In 2018, Trump had drawn back the US from the council during his first tenure as President. It was the same year that the organization passed more resolutions condemning Israel than it did for Syria, Iran, and North Korea combined.
Reviewing Anti-American Sentiments
Trump is taking things forward by instructing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to look into and report any international organizations, conventions, or treaties portraying any radical or anti-American sentiment. The focus of this inspection is primarily panned towards the UNESCO, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Parting Ways with UNESCO
Known for having stepped back from UNESCO a few years back over an anti-Israel bias, the US now stands on the precipice of making significant revisions to its involvement in global organizations. This move raises the question – is this a prelude to substantial shifts in American international policy under Trump’s rule? Only time can tell.
As the US sideswipes support away from Palestinians and the human rights issues, one can’t help but ponder what impact these changes will have on international relationships and the broader human rights sphere. The world watches as policy revolutions unfold under President Trump’s leadership, with the consequences of these actions yet to be seen.