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| Kerry Defends Israel Before U.N. Human Rights Panel | Kerry Defends Israel Before U.N. Human Rights Panel |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry came to the defense of Israel before a United Nations human rights body on Monday, saying that the “unbalanced focus” on Israel was undermining the organization’s credibility. | GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry came to the defense of Israel before a United Nations human rights body on Monday, saying that the “unbalanced focus” on Israel was undermining the organization’s credibility. |
| “It must be said that the H.R.C.’s obsession with Israel risks undermining the credibility of the entire organization,” Mr. Kerry said, using an abbreviation for the Human Rights Council. | “It must be said that the H.R.C.’s obsession with Israel risks undermining the credibility of the entire organization,” Mr. Kerry said, using an abbreviation for the Human Rights Council. |
| The Obama administration has sought in recent days to portray itself as a staunch supporter of Israel’s security, even as it has differed sharply with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the merits of the potential deal that would limit Iran’s nuclear program. | The Obama administration has sought in recent days to portray itself as a staunch supporter of Israel’s security, even as it has differed sharply with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the merits of the potential deal that would limit Iran’s nuclear program. |
| Susan E. Rice, President Obama’s national security adviser, is expected to deliver that message in her appearance on Monday at a conference organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. | Susan E. Rice, President Obama’s national security adviser, is expected to deliver that message in her appearance on Monday at a conference organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. |
| Mr. Kerry sought to bolster that position in his address, emphasizing that the United States “will oppose any effort by any group or participant in the U.N. system to arbitrarily and regularly delegitimize or isolate Israel.” | Mr. Kerry sought to bolster that position in his address, emphasizing that the United States “will oppose any effort by any group or participant in the U.N. system to arbitrarily and regularly delegitimize or isolate Israel.” |
| American officials are particularly concerned that a United Nations inquiry into the 2014 conflict in Gaza may be biased and could be used by critics to try to isolate Israel, politically or economically. | American officials are particularly concerned that a United Nations inquiry into the 2014 conflict in Gaza may be biased and could be used by critics to try to isolate Israel, politically or economically. |
| “Our hope is that the council will continue to shift its focus away from Israel and really focus on the bad human rights violators throughout the world,” a senior State Department official told reporters on Sunday, referring to nations like Syria and North Korea, which Mr. Kerry has singled out for its “appalling” human rights record. | “Our hope is that the council will continue to shift its focus away from Israel and really focus on the bad human rights violators throughout the world,” a senior State Department official told reporters on Sunday, referring to nations like Syria and North Korea, which Mr. Kerry has singled out for its “appalling” human rights record. |
| For all his support of Israel, however, Mr. Kerry warned in a news conference after his speech against selective leaks of the nuclear talks, saying that could complicate unfinished negotiations. Mr. Kerry did not say specifically who he feared might reveal the details, but it seemed clear that he was referring to Mr. Netanyahu and his aides. | For all his support of Israel, however, Mr. Kerry warned in a news conference after his speech against selective leaks of the nuclear talks, saying that could complicate unfinished negotiations. Mr. Kerry did not say specifically who he feared might reveal the details, but it seemed clear that he was referring to Mr. Netanyahu and his aides. |
| After providing his defense of Israel, Mr. Kerry left for Montreux, Switzerland, and a negotiating session with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister. | After providing his defense of Israel, Mr. Kerry left for Montreux, Switzerland, and a negotiating session with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister. |
| Iran has yet to respond to questions posed by the International Atomic Energy Agency about suspected work on nuclear weapon designs, Mr. Kerry said, or accept all of the verification measures that would be needed to strictly monitor the accord. | Iran has yet to respond to questions posed by the International Atomic Energy Agency about suspected work on nuclear weapon designs, Mr. Kerry said, or accept all of the verification measures that would be needed to strictly monitor the accord. |
| “Iran needs to answer those questions, and Iran needs to give confidence to the world,” Mr. Kerry said. | “Iran needs to answer those questions, and Iran needs to give confidence to the world,” Mr. Kerry said. |
| Making a point that the Iranian leadership has emphasized in recent weeks, Mr. Zarif said that Tehran was insisting that economic sanctions be lifted quickly if an accord is reached. | Making a point that the Iranian leadership has emphasized in recent weeks, Mr. Zarif said that Tehran was insisting that economic sanctions be lifted quickly if an accord is reached. |
| “Our negotiating partners, particularly the Western countries and particularly the United States, must once and for all come to the understanding that sanctions and agreement don’t go together,” Mr. Zarif said. “If they want an agreement, sanctions must go.” | “Our negotiating partners, particularly the Western countries and particularly the United States, must once and for all come to the understanding that sanctions and agreement don’t go together,” Mr. Zarif said. “If they want an agreement, sanctions must go.” |
| Washington has said that sanctions should be removed in stages as the agreement is implemented, with the pace of sanctions relief proving a major issue in the talks. | Washington has said that sanctions should be removed in stages as the agreement is implemented, with the pace of sanctions relief proving a major issue in the talks. |