It’s time for Britain to call time on Israel bias at the UN
Since the Israel Britain Alliance started its mission, to bring supporters of Israel together on a single campaigning platform, there has been one organisation that has consistently created fury amongst normally mild-mannered people.
The same people can respectfully disagree on a range of issues.
But mention the United Nations and you get virtual unanimity.
You see the UN has detached itself from reality.
It’s a bit like the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Two weavers promise an emperor a new suit of clothes that they say is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid or incompetent.
When the emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, no one dares to say that they do not see any clothes on him for fear that they will be declared stupid.
Until finally, a child cries out, “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!”
In this story the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is the one who cried out!
In April this year she denounced anti-Israel bias.
She used the publication of a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) titled, ‘Israeli Practices toward the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid’.
Haley described the report as false and defamatory.
In an interview the Ambassador recalled the discussion she had with the secretary general on the matter, “This is ridiculous. We cannot have this.’ He agreed. He pulled the report down and the director of ESCWA {Rima Khalaf} resigned.”
Good.
For too long good nations have sat quietly or gone along with the flow at the UN refusing to speak out, not because they would feel stupid but because they don’t want to rock the boat.
They’ve allowed the forums of this noble institution to be abused.
Because the bad news is that the ESCWA report isn’t a one off.
Since the creation of the UN Human Rights Council 68 out of the 135 resolutions adopted have been against Israel.
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted 97 resolutions criticising countries, 83 have been against Israel.
Possibly the most offensive and risible resolution was passed at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
This organisation decided to rewrite history and adopted a resolution, submitted by the Palestinians, that ignored Judaism’s ties to the religion’s holiest site, the Western Wall.
But there’s more, Britain has either supported or abstained on many of these resolutions.
But what is the end game in all of this?
There are at least two objectives.
One, the Palestinians want to use the UN to navigate their way to recognition and keep the door ajar for a single Palestinian state, they don’t chant ‘from the river to the sea Palestine will be free’ for no reason.
Two, their supporters use UN condemnation to win over the ignorant to the view that Israel is a bad country.
Think about it, how many times have you heard people say, yeah but the UN has condemned Israel so they must be right?
The first response for us should be: “NO – the UN is being abused and did you know that more than half of the countries who make up the UN aren’t even democracies.”
It’s time for Britain to call time on Israel bias at the United Nations.
You can support the Israel Britain Alliance campaign at www.israelbritain.org.uk/JN.
