The United Nations Human Rights Council, in the Palace of Nations (Geneva). Photo: Wiki Commons.

JNS.org – The United States on Wednesday criticized the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for its recent adoption of a measure that called for creating a database of Israeli businesses operating in Judea and Samaria.

“We continue to unequivocally oppose the very existence of that agenda item and therefore any resolutions…that come from it,” US State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

The Obama administration, however, still maintains the stance that Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria (and in other areas beyond the 1967 lines) is detrimental to efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The UN measure was adopted last week, with 32 nations voting in favor, none against, and 15 abstaining. The US is not a voting member of the UNHRC. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon last week called the Judea and Samaria database a “blacklist.”