NEW YORK (JTA) -- The U.N. high commissioner on human rights, considered harshly anti-Israel by many Jewish groups, announced that she will step down.

Despite previous indications that she would continue in her post, Mary Robinson announced Monday that she will step down in six months as planned. Jewish leaders welcomed the news.

"We're quite happy that she's stepping down. She's exhibited quite clear bias against the state of Israel," said Andrew Srulevitch, director of U.N. Watch.

Robinson was criticized especially for her handling of a U.N. anti-racism conference that was held last summer and became a forum for vicious anti-Semitism and attacks on Israel.