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When it comes to Israel it seems that there are no depths to which the United Nations and its associated agencies will plummet.
The recent performance however of this corrupted organization must earn it first prize in the double standards and hypocrisy categories. For far too long this dysfunctional organization has been treated as some sort of sacred cow which must be protected and kept immune from criticism by the legions of the politically correct. However the time has arrived when the blatant double standards must be exposed and condemned.
There are two primary examples which I want to concentrate on. They are the UN General Assembly and UNRWA.
While the General Assembly of the UN has little power to enforce its outrageous and one-sided decisions on Israel there is the undeniable and pernicious tendency for the Security Council to often waste its time on resolutions passed in the General Assembly. Additionally, of course, the media and therefore public opinion are negatively influenced by continual condemnations and malicious accusations. After all if Israel is regularly pilloried for any and every crime against humanity it must follow that there is some veracity attached to the fact that more resolutions against the Jewish State are passed than against any other country. Dirt sticks if enough of it is thrown and as we all know there is plenty of dirt thrown on Israel at the UN every time it meets.
Last week was a classic example. Six resolutions, proposed by the Palestinian Arab and Syrian representatives singled out Israel for special treatment yet again. Look carefully at the details and note in particular those countries which voted against them. This will give you some sort of indication as to the toxic level of hypocrisy pervading the organisation.
Resolution: “continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders…”
VOTE: 102 in favor; 8 against (Australia, Canada, Israel, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, USA); 57 abstentions.
Resolution: “Considers that, by providing substantive support to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the implementation of its mandate, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a most useful and constructive contribution to raising international awareness of the question of Palestine…”
VOTE: 99 in favor; 8 against (same countries as above); 59 abstentions.
Resolution: “Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine…”
VOTE: 155 in favor; 7 against (same countries as above MINUS Australia); 7 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, South Sudan, Tonga).
Resolution: “Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the Territory …”
VOTE: 155 in favor; 7 against (Australia, Canada, Israel, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, USA); 7 abstentions (Cameroon, Nauru, Honduras, Paraguay, South Sudan, Tonga, Togo).
Resolution: “Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the Occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to immediately cease all such illegal and unilateral measures.”
VOTE: 153 in favor; 7 against (same as above); 8 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Panama, Papua, Paraguay, South Sudan, Tonga, Togo).
Resolution: “Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.”
VOTE: 105 in favor; 6 against (Canada, Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, USA); 56 abstentions.
It is instructive to note that although Australia voted with the moral minority in most cases it did not do so with the resolution relating to the Golan. One has to question, given the realities of ISIS and Assad’s slaughter of his own people, why Australia would not vote against this preposterous resolution. As for New Zealand’s miserable voting record where it either abstained or voted with the immoral majority in every case, what can one deduce? No wonder it is perceived as a flawed fair weather friend and totally unsuited to assume any role in achieving peace between Israel and those who seek its demise.
The second glaring example of UN hypocrisy and double standards revolves around UNRWA, the agency created to perpetuate eternal misery for Palestinian Arab refugees. Much has been written about this body previously but the latest revelations take it to even greater levels of incredible imbecility.
Thanks to UN Watch, an NGO dedicated to exposing the endless and unbelievable goings on which are the hallmark of the UN and its associated agencies, a startling exposé of UNRWA employees’ behavior has just been released to the public. Have a good look at the link below and see for yourselves how an agency, in this case funded by donor nations including Australia & New Zealand, employs individuals whose hatred for Israel and Jews knows no bounds. Note in particular Item #9 which exposes the activities of an official UNRWA goodwill “youth ambassador.” Despite frenetic denials, the clear evidence of a UN established agency supposedly dedicated to “resolving” the Arab refugee problem, is instead the vehicle for propagating vile hatred is a scandal of immense proportions. It is about time that donor countries conditioned their aid on a complete change in UNRWA’s activities.
http://www.unwatch.org/report-un-officials-inciting-murder-of-jews-call-to-stab-zionist-dogs/
I have emailed the Foreign Ministries of Australia and New Zealand on this very subject. As at this time, no responses have been received.
The above examples are merely the tip of an iceberg. What more will it take before fair-minded nations scream “enough already?”
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.
