U.S. Calls for Richard Falk’s Resignation

Sara Fried — June 10, 2013 – 2:11 pm | Foreign Policy Comments (0) Add a comment

The United States called for the resignation of UN special rapporteur on Palestinian human rights Richard Falk for his statements against the pro-Israel group UN Watch. U.S. Representative to the Human Rights Council Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said:

The United States completely rejects and condemns the irresponsible call by Mr. Richard Falk, UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, to investigate a legitimate and UN-accredited NGO, UN Watch. His statement and recommendation, if given credibility, would threaten the independent voice of civil society at the United Nations….

Mr. Falk’s most recent statement, which he dramatically and recklessly included in an official UN document, is characteristic of previous reprehensible comments and actions he has made during his tenure as a special rapporteur.  It once again starkly demonstrates that he is unfit to serve in his role as a UN special rapporteur.

His views and behavior, both official and unofficial, are offensive and provocative and do nothing to advance peace in the Middle East or to further the protection and promotion of human rights.  We again call for his resignation.

Falk accused UN Watch of “‘demeaning’ and ‘defaming’ his character, damaging the ‘credibility,’ ‘effectiveness’ and ‘substantive intention’ of his mandate,” according to JTA. His criticisms of UN Watch followed its resolution to remove him from his position after Falk blamed the Boston Marathon bombings on “the American global domination project” and “Tel Aviv.”

The Anti-Defamation League praised Ambassador Donahoe for her statement against Falk. ADL National Director Abraham Foxman said:

We fully agree with Ambassador Donahoe’s conclusion that Mr. Falk “is unfit to serve in his role as a U.N. special rapporteur.”  His continued affiliation with the U.N. makes a mockery out of the Human Rights Council’s founding purpose, and undermines the important work of the U.N.  If he does not leave voluntarily, the Human Rights Council should remove him.

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