What Rift? When It Comes to Palestinians and Human Rights, US and Israel As Close As Ever

Amid a public spat between the White House officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, top Obama administration aides signaled Monday that the U.S./Israeli “special relationship” is as ironclad as ever—especially when it comes to accountability over war crimes against Palestinians.

In the midst of Netanyahu’s controversial visit to Washington, top Obama administration aides on Monday issued blistering condemnations of the United Nations Human Rights Council for launching an investigation into violations of international humanitarian law committed during Israel’s 50-day military assault on Gaza last summer.

Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Kerry claimed that the global body holds an “unfair and unfounded bias” against Israel. “The Human Rights Council’s obsession with Israel risks undermining the credibility of the entire organization,” the Secretary of State continued.

Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, struck a similar chord in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual policy conference in Washington on Monday.

“It is bitterly unjust that the United Nations, an institution founded on the idea that all nations should be treated equally, is so often used cynically by member states to treat Israel unequally,” she said. “These attacks on Israel’s legitimacy are biased, they are ugly, and the United States of America will not rest until they stop.”

“We believe firmly that Israel’s security and the U.S.-Israel partnership transcends politics and always will,” Powers added, vocalizing a sentiment that was repeated by Netanyahu, who also presented at the AIPAC gathering.

“Our friendship will weather the current disagreement as well,” declared the Israeli Prime Minister.

The conciliatory comments come in the midst of an unprecedented rift over Netanyahu’s current visit, which was orchestrated by GOP House Speaker John Boehner and the Israeli ambassador without the blessing of the White House. Netanyahu has been clear that the primary purpose of his address to Congress, slated for Tuesday, is to sabotage talks between global powers and Iran, thereby undermining a key policy initiative of the Obama administration.