Last year, as in many years before, Israel faced repeated criticisms in the UN General Assembly. On a resolution condemning its occupation of Palestinian territory, (above) one hundred and twenty countries voted against Israel. Only 8 countries (including Canada and the USA) defended it. Why does the UN single out Israel for repeated criticism? The answer might not be what you think. Watch my short video explanation….
Every fall leaders from around the world trek to New York to give speeches and debate issues of world importance. Many of the speeches are made to empty halls, their real audience back home in their own country. Only a few world leaders, like the US President, or this year the Ukrainian President draw a significant audience at UN Headquarters in New York. Minor leaders like Prime Minister Trudeau or Bibi Netanyahu don’t usually draw much of an audience.
Its very rare that a leader from the Western world would ever raise the issue of Palestine in their speech. However, many leaders from the “Global South” do so. Already leaders from all of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have made a point of commenting on the obligation of the international community to support justice for Palestinians.
After the “speechifying”, it comes to making resolutions snd every year the UN General Assembly levels criticism at Israel.
Why the focus on Israel?
There are regularly many more resolutions critical of tiny Israel (population 9 million) than of any other UN member.
Why is this? Israel and organizations like UN Watch claim that it reflects “antisemitism”. But it is hard to explain why many countries far away from Israel, often where there are very few Jewish citizens would be so seized with antisemitism or obsessed with Israel.
On the other hand, Israel’s occupation and ongoing abuses of palestinian human rights are certainly grounds for criticism, but are they really five times worse than, for example, Myanmar, Sri Lanka or Saudi Arabia?
My assessment is that neither of these arguments is sufficient to explain why the UN seems to be so focussed on Israel. I think a more satisfactory explanation has to do with the fact that Israel is UNIQUE among UN members.
Israel was brought into being through a decision of the United Nations General Assembly in 1947, and admitted to the UN in 1949 on certain conditions. Conditions which Israel has ignored for 75 years. Watch my 20 video minute explanation.
Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
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Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 
This is excellent! I will share it widely.
Thanks so much,
Frances Combs
I agree. Excellent research. I also will be sharing. Nice to hear the truth about the history of this conflict. Too often we are bombarded by propaganda from the Zionist lobbyists.
To emphasize your explanation of many more resolutions against Israel than other countries due is due to Israel’s not complying with any of them, was explained by Canadian prof. Michael Lynk, who was a Middle East special rapporteur. He said that the list of Israeli crimes just repeat from one year to the next. He did not attribute any of it to antisemitism, which I agree with him. Keep in mind that Zionists and Israeli crimes go on now for about one hundred years. Much more that other countries. So in effect Israel continues it abuses with no adverse consequences. Add to that that Israel’s crimes are more egreeges due to settler colonialism, land theft, home demolitions, children’s torture and children being judge in military court, which is the only country doing so and numerous others, which is not done by other countries to this extent.
It is rational to turn your attention to, and spend your energy on, things that you can do something about while saying little about things that you are powerless to stop. The world seems unable to do anything about countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka or Saudi Arabia. We are obligated to respect their sovereignty. However, the UN created Israel and many countries still continue to arm it and to support it in other ways. Those countries are under no obligation to continue their support and could stop it. We can do something (by doing nothing😁). That makes UN countries responsible for the crimes committed against Palestinians. It is because we allow Israel to continue doing what it does that we see so many resolutions reminding us of what is going on.
Very good point Dr. Parnas. I had overlooked it. thank you.
Excellent article ,Peter ,and very much a need to know factual historical review.
So many are ignorant of the history .The refusal to abide by the terms of Israel’s formation ,by the UN ,answers the question posed at the head of this article ,extremely well .Thank you for your continuing good work .