A/HRC/25/15 universal periodic review would go a long way to restore equality and fairness regarding Israel in Geneva. 8. Israel came to the review with respect for the process, belief in the importance of its universality and cooperative nature, and with great pride in its achievements. 9. The delegation referred to information contained in the national report, including the final chapter, which looked at challenges, constraints and opportunities. The main challenge Israel was facing was its relations with the Palestinians. Recent resumption of direct negotiations for peace was a welcome step. In that context, the delegation pointed out that Israel had agreed to release Palestinian prisoners as a confidence-building measure. A second group of prisoners was being released that night. Their release illustrated the determination of Israel to reach an agreement with its Palestinian neighbours that would, once and for all, end the conflict. 10. The engagement by Israel with human rights bodies and mechanisms reflected those principles. Israel was a party to the core human rights treaty bodies, and had, between 2009 and 2013, completed its examination by six treaty bodies. Moreover, during 2011, Israel had hosted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Israel also had hosted the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to nondiscrimination in this context, in February 2012, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, in 2009. 11. Since its establishment, Israel had had to balance a difficult and complex security situation with democratic traditions and the respect for human rights. Such challenges strained the delicate balance between the effective steps necessary to overcome the various threats to a State’s security and the protection of human rights. 12. The delegation noted that they had come to listen to comments and recommendations, which they would study closely, and that they would report on the implementation of recommendations received during the first cycle of the UPR. 13. Shai Nitzan, Deputy Attorney General (Special Affairs), Ministry of Justice, noted that the national report, the presence of the members of the delegation, the periodic reports submitted by Israel to human rights treaty bodies and the State’s interactive dialogue with such bodies were opportunities for in-depth self-examination and identification of challenges. 14. Israel had been subjected regularly to significant, and often politically motivated, scrutiny over the years, disproportionate to the worldwide human rights situation. Israel worked regularly with various international and domestic bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved with human rights issues, including with the Minerva Center and civil society on the reporting process and follow-up with the human rights treaty bodies. 15. Israel was aware of the complexity of its multicultural society and of the vital need to protect human rights, and to strike an appropriate balance between protection of human rights and the public interest. 16. Mr. Nitzan noted that the extremely limited scope of his statement did not permit him to cover all improvements pertaining to the implementation of human rights in Israel. 17. Israeli courts played a crucial role in anchoring and promoting human rights in Israeli society. The courts were empowered to conduct a judicial review of any act of legislation, in the light of the Basic Laws. Mr. Nitzan provided examples in that regard. 4