GENEVA - Diplomats said Friday Israel has temporarily reduced its participation with the UN Human Rights Council, days after the United States pulled out.

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The diplomats in Geneva, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Israel had "lowered" its participation.

Israel was not participating in the council plenary Friday, where its seat sat empty. Israeli officials missed several other discussions in recent days.

UN Human Rights Council (Photo: AFP)

The diplomats cautioned the move was not definitive and could change from day to day.

Israeli diplomats haven't participated since a council discussion Thursday on discrimination against women.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded the US walkout announced Tuesday.

Israeli diplomatic officials said Israel had to follow the lead of its ally, the United States, and could not settle for the statement praising President Trump for his decision to withdraw from the UN body.

The Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Emmanuel Nahshon, declined to comment on the report.

Israel is not one of the council's 47 member states, but has participated like most other countries as an observer.

The Trump administration insists the council is biased against Israel. But some Israeli Foreign Ministry officials are worried the US withdrawal will make it harder to thwart anti-Israeli resolutions.





