As a platform intended to promote international cooperation, peace and human rights, the United Nations bears significant responsibility. However, to those who closely follow the organization, it is clear that the UN has a consistent bias against Israel that undermines its credibility and ability to foster global harmony.
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This bias was thrust into the spotlight once again on Sept. 20 when Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan peacefully protested a speech by Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi. During the speech, Erdan held up a picture of Mahsa Amini, an innocent Iranian woman murdered by Iran's "morality police" for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly. Amini's death set off a wave of protests against Raisi's theocratic regime.
After Erdan's protest, he attempted to leave the hall. The UN Police promptly put their hands on him and physically escorted him out. The UN should be ashamed of itself.
This appalling event is a teachable moment, an opportunity to revisit the UN's record of open hostility towards Israel.
First, there is the UN's disproportionate focus on Israel's actions compared to those of other nations. The UN's obsession with passing resolutions condemning Israel, often by an overwhelming majority, while turning a blind eye to other nations with far more egregious records, is deeply troubling. While criticism of Israel is certainly valid when warranted, the disproportionate attention it receives suggests a political agenda at work.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a notorious example of such bias. Since its inception, the UNHRC has adopted more resolutions condemning Israel than any other country in the world. At the same time, critics have pointed out that the UNHRC has failed to adequately address severe human rights violations in countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. This inconsistency raises questions about the UN's commitment to impartiality and its ability to address global human rights abuses effectively.
Another issue is the UN's tendency to label Israeli self-defense as aggression. Israel, like any sovereign nation, has the right to defend itself from threats and attacks. The UN's failure to acknowledge the complex security challenges facing Israel, including constant terrorist threats from groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, is a glaring omission that undermines the organization's credibility.
It's important to note that criticism of the UN's treatment of Israel is not an attempt to shield Israel from accountability. Israel, like any other nation, should be held responsible for its actions when and if they violate international law or human rights standards. However, the UN's approach must be consistent and fair, applying the same standards to all member states.
The UN's appalling treatment of Ambassador Erdan will go down in the history books as the latest chapter in the organization's long history of obvious bias against the world's only Jewish state.
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
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