U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Wednesday visited Jerusalem for the first time, where she described the U.N.'s treatment of Israel as "bullying."
Haley also "berated" the U.N. Human Rights Council in her Geneva speech Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. She said the Council allowed human rights abuses to continue while singling out Israel unfairly, and she expanded on those criticisms when she spoke in Jerusalem.
"I have never taken kindly to bullies, and the U.N. has bullied Israel for a very long time and we are not going to let that happen anymore," Haley said.
She also said that attitudes toward Israel are changing within the U.N.
"We’re starting to see a turn in New York. I think they know they can’t keep responding in the way they’ve been responding," Haley told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Haley said that the U.N.’s exclusive focus on Israel doesn’t make sense even to some members of the Human Rights Council.
"Some of them were embarrassed by it. They acknowledge the fact that it just makes no sense," she said.
Netanyahu thanked Haley for her leadership, and he tied the goals of Israel to those of the U.S. and even the U.N.
"Thank you for all your help and standing up for Israel, standing up for the truth, which is standing up for America. Actually, I think it’s standing up for the U.N. as it was originally conceived," Netanyahu said.
"People appreciate truth," he added.
"You know, that’s all I’ve done — tell the truth — and the reaction is kind of overwhelming," Haley said.