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Yoel Bin-Nun

Continuing the Conversation with President Biden

Image adapted from Pixabay.

When I first wrote an open letter to President Joe Biden, I did not really think that he would read it. But I was surprised to read a news article stating that he responded to a similar question raised by an Israeli cabinet minister, who noted that the Allied Forces bombed Nazi Germany indiscriminately. President Biden explained that the United Nations charter, established after the Second World War, put an end to such things.

If these reports are true, we still need to press the American president on the following:

  • What happened during the Korean War, under the flag of the United Nations?
  • What happened during the Vietnam War, under the American flag?

How many women and children were killed there? What official body investigated the war tactics to ensure that they met UN standards? And how many women and children were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan? How were those wars policed? Why is Israel the only nation whose army is investigated?

Moreover, in following the laws of war established by the United Nations, Israel encouraged civilians in Gaza to evacuate the area of the battlefield, but Hamas did their best to keep them from leaving. It is Hamas that bears the sole responsibility for the deaths of civilians – including women and children – in Gaza. It appears that you, President Biden, are unable to accept this fact, so you are pressuring Israel to stop the fighting. You will go down in history as the individual who allowed Hamas to survive, and will be held responsible for the dire consequences that will follow if they do.

But worst of all: According to UN Resolution 194, it is only Palestinian refugees who have the right to return to their places of origin, to Haifa and Jaffa, in order to destroy the Jewish state – how did you agree to that? Why do all other refugees receive services from UNHCR whose mandate is to settle them elsewhere, but Palestinians have UNRWA that offers the right of return not only to refugees but to their children and grandchildren, as well? This is clearly an attempt by the United Nations to destroy the State of Israel – why are such antisemitic positions supported, when they do not exist anywhere else in the world?

About the Author
Dr. Rabbi Yoel bin Nun is one of the founders of Yeshivat Har Etzion. He received his rabbinic training at Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav and his Ph.D. from Hebrew University. In 1986, he established Michlelet Yaakov Herzog for training Jewish Studies teachers, especially in Bible instruction. Between 2000-2006 he served as the Rosh Ha-Yeshiva of Yeshivat HaKibbutz HaDati in Ein Tzurim.
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