White House Threatens to Exit UN Human Rights Council

The Trump administration has threatened to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council, according to correspondence obtained by Foreign Policy. In letters to nine non-profit organizations this week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson claims the U.S. will exit the 47-member organization if “considerable reform”—largely to how the council treats Israel-related issues—is not undertaken. “If they don’t make these reforms, we’re going to question the value of our membership,” a senior Tillerson aide told FP. “We’re not taking withdrawal off the table.” Of particular issue to the Trump White House are the council’s handling of Israel, but also the fact that its membership includes known human-rights abusers China, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.