The UNESCO Debacle

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation voted on a resolution disconnecting Jewish and Christian history from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This UN body ignored Jewish history and connection to Jerusalem spanning over thousands of years. The numerous artefacts discovered and still being discovered on an almost daily basis serves as undisputable proof of Jewish existence.

Twenty-four nations voted in favour of the motion, 26 abstained and only 6 voted against. When looking at the list of nations who voted in favour of the motion, it became clear that the policies of these nations are more lenient towards the Palestinian cause. Even to the point of ignoring historical facts.

For an important UN body to draft such a deceivable resolution for the world to vote on, is irresponsible and totally unacceptable. It certainly defies the founding principles of the United Nations.

Ironically, the reasons for the founding of the United Nations were to prevent conflict and to promote peace amongst nations. The UNESCO debacle will not only lead to more conflict in a very volatile region, but will negatively impact any peace initiatives in the future. The question should then be asked, have forces opposing peace not hijacked the UN to advance their own selfish agendas?

Countries like South Africa who voted in favour of the resolution promoting the narrative that the Temple Mount is exclusively a Muslim place of worship, defies their own constitutions which guarantees freedom of worship. UNESCO as a body of the UN does the same by not respecting one of the basic tenets of democracy.

South Africa should’ve followed the example of Mexico who withdrew their initial support of the resolution. To be part of the ratification process of this highly controversial Jerusalem resolution, South Africa finally aborted their relevancy to be part of any future peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

The latest UNESCO vote proved once again that nations hostile to Israel effectively use the UN as platform to delegitimize Israel. For the UN to fulfil its role which the founding fathers intended, serious introspection and a complete overhaul of its structures is needed.

It is suffice to end this article by quoting Article 1 of Chapter 1 of the United Nations:

Article 1

The Purposes of the United Nations are:

1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
3. To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

There is too much hate and conflict in this world. Institutions and nations need strong and honest leadership to lead people on a path of human dignity.