The UN Security Council: A Relic of the Past, a Barrier to Peace

The story of Korach, this week’s Torah reading from the biblical book of Numbers, serves as a timeless warning against the perils of illegitimate authority and the destructive power of speech left unchecked by truth or responsibility. Korach’s rebellion was not a legitimate political position but an audacious power grab, threatening to dismantle the very fabric of a divinely ordained order. The narrative’s swift and dire consequences for his followers stand as a stark reminder: not all claims to power are valid, and speech that undermines legitimate structures for selfish gain carries potentially catastrophic risks.

These ancient lessons resonate with disturbing clarity this week within the United Nations Security Council. Its very architecture, granting unilateral veto power to its five permanent members (P5) – China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US – is an anachronism. Established in 1945, reflecting post-World War II power dynamics, this structure now actively undermines the Council’s foundational commitment to international peace and security, frozen in time despite radical global shifts.

The parallels to Korach’s rebellion become chillingly apparent when considering certain P5 members’ actions. During this week’s discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, both Russia and China, entrusted with global security, condemned US and Israeli efforts. Their consistent tendency to shield their own interests or those of their allies, often through their veto power, stands in stark contrast to the Council’s stated mission. Russia, for instance, has brazenly flouted international law and instigated devastating conflicts, only to use its veto to block accountability and meaningful action by the very body it is meant to serve. And this week it has the audacity to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East as it continues its own devasting and unjustified war against Ukraine. The US and Israeli attack is actually aimed at bringing peace to the Middle East, while Russia’s actions, both political and military, serve its own narrow, nationalistic interests at global peace’s expense. Giving today’s Russia such political authority at the Security Council is akin to handing the keys of authority to Korach, allowing the very disruptor of order to dictate the terms of stability.

China’s often non-interventionist stance frequently aligns with Russia’s in blocking Western-led resolutions. Its growing assertiveness and use of the veto to protect strategic interests paralyze the Council when urgent action is needed. This veto, intended to prevent unilateral adventurism, is perverted into a tool for self-preservation, stifling discourse and paralyzing effective response.

The consequences are dire. From atrocities in Syria and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to the deepening crisis surrounding Iran, the Security Council’s inaction, directly attributable to the veto, has eroded its credibility. Nations worldwide increasingly view the Council as an exclusive club where the select interests of the few override the global suffering of the many.

Like the United Nations as a whole, it is highly questionable if the UN Security Council as it is constituted serves any legitimate purpose today. The UN Security Council was established primarily to maintain international peace and security. Yet, by allowing permanent members to act with impunity and shield themselves through antiquated power, it has become complicit in the perpetuation of global instability and insecurity. The preeminence of a few, rooted in a bygone historical context, is no longer valid.

Like Korach’s rebellion, the UN Security Council in its current form allows self-serving power to triumph over the collective good.  It has become an obsolete, irrelevant impediment that should be dismantled as soon as possible.