Israel decided to cut all contacts with the United Nations Human Rights Council because of its plans to investigate West Bank settlements, an official said.

A senior diplomat said Monday the Foreign Ministry decided to suspend Israel's membership at the U.N. body in response to the council's decision last week to send a fact-finding mission to the West Bank, Israel Radio reported.

The ministry said it will would bar the entry of mission members planning to investigate the settlements, the report said.

Israel's ambassador to U.N. organizations in Geneva has been instructed not to appear before the council, answer phone calls from the council or cooperate with members in any way, Israel Radio said.

The ambassador will remain in Geneva and continue cooperating with other organizations there, The Jerusalem Post said.

A decision had not been made concerning punitive action against the Palestinian Authority, which asked the council to investigate the settlements, The Post said.

The English-language daily said Israel plans to ask other countries to also cut contacts with the council. (c) UPI