Israel Should Withdraw From The UN By Aaron Goldstein July 26, 2004 American Daily http://www.americandaily.com/article/4430 http://www.americandaily.com/article/4430 mailto:jillian_writes@yahoo.com The World Jewish Congress is currently circulating a petition calling on the United Nations General Assembly to pass a resolution condemning anti-Semitism. The organization’s President Edgar Bronfman wants to compel the UN “to finally take a stand on the rampant anti-Semitism that continues throughout the world.” I affixed my signature to the petition with the faint hope that this undertaking will succeed. But in life one learns the difference between optimism and wishful thinking. I cannot help but think this exercise is far more grounded in the latter than in the former. The recent decision of the International Court of Justice to condemn Israel’s security barrier was no surprise even though it had no authority to render such a decision. The subsequent resolution passed by the UN General Assembly supporting the ICJ’s decision was also no surprise even though such a resolution makes a mockery of the ICJ. The ICJ was intended to arbitrate disputes between nation states and such arbitration required the consent of both nation states in question. Well, Israel did not consent to be a party to this hearing and the Palestinian Authority is not a nation state. But why would the UN let its own rules get in the way of defaming Israel? Indeed, the UN has been actively seeking Israel’s destruction. Jed Babbin, who was Deputy Undersecretary of Defense in the first Bush Administration, wrote in his recently released book “Inside the Asylum: Why the United Nations and Old Europe Are Worse Than You Think” about the cozy relationship between the UN and Hezbollah terrorists on the Israeli-Lebanese border: “The picture shows something Israelis see every day, but the media and the world ignore: two flagpoles about fifteen apart; on one, the blue UN flag, and on the other, the yellow flag of Hezbollah, bearing an AK-47 assault rifle held in a clinched fist. An Israeli soldier who served at that IDF post in 2003 described to me what he saw there, how the UN and Hezbollah men go about their daily routines side by side. The Hezbollah – identified by the uniforms and ski masks they wear – use the same telephones, drink the same water, and get along quite nicely with the UN “peace monitors.” On October 7, 2000, three Israeli soldiers were ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by Hezbollah terrorists disguised as UN peace monitors and using a UN vehicle. Getting along quite nicely indeed. The UN also seeks Israel’s destruction through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Believe it or not, the UN has one agency – the UN High Commission on Refugees for the refugees of the world while UNRWA deals exclusively with Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is notorious for employing members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Fatah (Yasir Arafat’s group). UNRWA vehicles have been used to transport weapons to Hamas terrorists as well as Fatah and PFLP terrorists to carry out attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. It has been nearly thirty years since the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin called upon the UN to expel Israel from it ranks while speaking in support of the infamous “Zionism is Racism” resolution. Although the “Zionism is Racism” resolution has long since been rescinded, the desire of the UN to blame Israel for the evils of the world has not abated. One must ask what purpose is served for Israel’s continued membership in the UN? In addition to what I have described above, it is forbidden to join any of the UN’s regional blocs and thus the only member country ineligible to become a member of the UN Security Council. I do not believe that the Israeli government will withdraw from the UN anytime soon. Nor do I think that the United States would take kindly to such a contemplation. Indeed, resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly are simply that – resolutions. They have no force in law. UN Security Council resolutions are another matter but the United States usually vetoes any Security Council resolution aimed against Israel. The Bush Administration may be the best friend Israel has ever had in Washington, if not the world. But things may not bode so well for Israel should John Kerry be elected given his inconsistent statements concerning Israel – especially the security barrier. A Kerry Administration would likely lean harder on Israel to make more concessions and consequently would be less likely to stand up for Israel at the UN. Should such a turn of events why it is then that Israel should continue to let the UN treat it as its personal pinnata? One may argue that such a move would isolate Israel in the world community. But how can Israel become more isolated than it already is? One must also consider that withdrawing from the UN may very well have the effect of calling the UN’s legitimacy into question. The United States would also need to reexamine its role with the UN. Should Israel withdraw from the UN, the United States might very well lobby for Israel’s readmission under special conditions or threaten to withdraw itself. If the United States withdrew from the UN, it would essentially be a collection of Islamist tyrannies and European appeasers. As it is UN is a democratic body for nation states that don’t practice democracy at home. Even a threatened withdrawal by the United States would give the UN a much needed swift kick. Granted the scenarios I have presented are not likely to happen anytime soon but then again neither is the UN likely to give Israel a fair shake anytime soon either. In a time where Israel is fighting for its survival from enemies without and within how long can the status quo prevail? Don’t get me wrong, I would like to see the UN General Assembly pass a resolution on anti-Semitism. However, if the UN General Assembly cannot pass a resolution on terrorism what makes anyone think that a resolution on anti-Semitism will see the light of day? So long as this state of affairs prevails, Israel should begin contemplating an exit strategy from the UN.