THE United States demanded yesterday that the UN human rights council end its criticism of Israel and turn its fire on Washington’s targets instead.

Addressing the body at its seat in Geneva, US envoy Erin Barclay claimed: “The obsession with Israel … is the largest threat to this council’s credibility.

“When it comes to human rights, no country should be free from scrutiny, but neither should any democratic country be regularly subjected to unfair, unbalanced and unfounded bias,” she said. Instead, she called on the council to focus on criticising Syria and North Korea.

Ms Barclay insisted Washington’s commitment to human rights “is stronger than ever” — before issuing a warning to the body it only joined in 2009, three years after its formation.

“My government will be considering the council’s actions with an eye toward reform to more fully achieve the council’s mission,” she said.

On Tuesday, Venezuela accused the council of supporting the “campaign of aggression” against its socialist government.

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said: “The imperial powers have targeted Venezuela for its human rights model, which is inclusive and universal.

“Venezuela maintains its economic model and has undoubtedly become a threat to this capitalist empire and this international and financial order that is causing suffering to the whole of humanity.”

The same day the US Senate unanimously passed a motion expressing “concern” at the situation in Venezuela and demanding the release of “political prisoners.”

Chief among them is far-right Popular Will party leader Leopoldo Lopez, who is serving nearly 14 years for inciting 2014’s “Guarimba” regime change riots that left 43 people dead and more than 800 injured.