The Palestinian Authority, Israel's partner in the faltering US-brokered peace process, also accused it of painting the Jewish state "with the blood of victims.”

The verbal assault came as two critical reports on Israeli actions in the region ordered up by the 47-nation council were presented to delegations.

The body's members are elected by regional constituencies, which gives Islamic states and their allies a majority.

Israel, which is not a council member, accused the body of being "obsessively biased" against it while ignoring gross human rights violations in countries like Iran, North Korea, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Turkey, long an Israeli ally but now a sharp critic, told the council Israel "must put an end to its culture of violence" while Libya, recently elected to the body, called for Israeli leaders to be put on trial for war crimes.

Similar views were voiced by other countries of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) ranging from Pakistan and Iran through Syria, Egypt, Gulf Arab states and Algeria, and by Nigeria.

The OIC has proposed a resolution -- almost certain to be passed -- calling for continued UN surveillance of Israel's own investigation into the Gaza conflict.

The UN confrontation came as new talks between Israelis and Palestinians promoted by US President Barack Obama appeared in jeopardy as Israel's freeze of Jewish settlement- building on occupied Palestinian territory was lifted.