The Knesset Health Committee on Monday held a heated discussion on a proposal for Israel to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) over the UN agency’s anti-Israel stances and corruption.

MK Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit), who initiated the discussion, said that the WHO “consistently takes a hostile stance against the state of Israel, while promoting decisions that harm its rights in the international arena.”

“The organization’s policy is often tainted with antisemitism and clear discrimination against Israel and constitutes a serious violation of the legitimacy of the State of Israel as a sovereign state,” Son Har-Melech continued.

She noted that US President Donald Trump had “announced the US withdrawal from the organization on the very day he entered the White House, with the understanding that the organization does not serve the interests of democratic countries and even harms them.”

“The State of Israel must take a similar step, in order to maintain its international status, prevent harm to its interests, and send a clear message against antisemitic discrimination in any international institution.”

She added that, in any event, with the withdrawal of the US, the WHO lost 30% of its budget, rendering the organization unable to conduct research and international cooperation.

Other MKs who expressed support for the proposal included Galit Distel Atbaryan, Nissim Vaturi, Osher Shekalim, Tsega Malko, Ariel Kellner, Kati Shitrit, Ohad Tal, and Michal Waldiger.

Professor Ehud Keinan, an international expert of chemistry, noted that WHO’s “professional authority” is “controversial,” while its policies are undoubtedly “corrupt” and “antisemitic.” He pointed to Taiwan as an example of a country that has thrived in a variety of fields, including medicine, despite not being a member of the WHO.

Michael Puah, chairman of the “Bochrim Bamishpacha” (Choosing Family) organization, added that the WHO is engaged, among other things, in “promoting an agenda of sex education for children from the age of 0.”

“This is more progressive trolling, the goal of which is to severely harm the development of the child’s identity, in accordance with his physical development and the family and social contexts in which he is supposed to function,” he said.

“After the US left the organization, it is clear that those guided by freedom and justice cannot find their place in this organization,” he added. “Since the US stopped its participation in funding the organization, only the negative parties with vested interests remain.”

It was also noted during the discussion that the WHO has still not condemned the October 7 massacre, which included attacks on ambulances and the murder of doctors and medics. Neither has the organization condemned Hamas’ use of hospitals as human shields for terrorist activity. On the other hand, on November 20, 2023, the WHO published an article in which it condemned Israel for strikes on “occupied Palestinian territories” following October 7.

The committee is to hold another hearing on the issue, in order to hear from representatives of government offices, before reaching a decision.

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