Israel's Outrages, Problems with the U.N.

"Israel Shells U.N. Site in Gaza, Drawing Fresh Condemnation"
A1, Friday 1/16/09
By Isabel Kershner

Too many unsubstantiated claims about the last few battles in Gaza. Perhaps a few more days, after more is know, would do this article justice. On a positive note, Kershner refers to recent casualty figures, citing the “Hamas-run Ministry of Health,” which could mark the first time this has been pointed out. Unfortunately, to this point, “Gaza health officials” has obscured much.

Kershner reports that Israel shelled UNRWA headquarters. A back and forth with UN and Israeli spokesmen ensues. However, John Ging, director of UN operations in Gaza, is given the final say. He “questioned why Israeli liaison officers had never mentioned Hamas activity in the area, even though he said they were in constant contact.” Kershner quotes Jing, who says “they should tell us if there are militants operating in our compound or in our area. The fact that they don’t, we take that as indicative of the fact that there wasn’t.”

Is a guy like Jing ignorant of Hamas stealth and speed while engaging Israeli forces? How much time would Israel need to inform Jing and other officials before being forced to return fire, defending its men and positions?

In addition to the UNRWA building, also hit were a building “occupied by several media organizations,” and a hospital. In describing Israel’s “military escalation”, and reporting that Israel “did not give details of its latest ground operations,” Kershner makes clear where the responsibility lies.

The hit on the UNRWA building “underscored the difficult relations between Israel and the United Nations that stretch back to Israel’s founding.” The UN-Israel relationship an important story, and it was promising that Kershner decided to take this on.

She cites Israeli officials who claim “institutional bias”. One official Kershner quotes points out that “the same 21 anti-Israel resolutions are passed by an automatic majority in the General Assembly every year. ‘That is before we’ve done anything,’ one official said.” Interestingly, and perhaps revealingly, UN officials aren’t heard from on this charge.

Kershner attempts to provide some historical context. “Even though modern Israel came into existence months after” the UN partition plan, “Ben-Gurion wrote off the U.N. in the 1950s.” First, Ben-Gurion joking “UM, shmum,” isn't evidence that he “wrote off” the UN.

Ben-Gurion lamented that the UN did nothing to ensure implementation of the partition resolution. Israel felt the Security Council took lightly Arab violations of the 1949 cease-fire. The UN also failed in its duty to protect Israel’s border in the Sinai in 1967 and has not only failed since to take a principled stand against outright war on Israel, but to be an active participant.

Kershner intones that Israel should’ve been grateful to the U.N. But since that historic vote, has the U.N. fulfilled its obligations to defend Israel? Not even close, and that’s why Kershner’s “even though” is a flawed history lesson.

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Iran Leader Assails Israel
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It’s a laugh a minute with Ahmadinejad. He states that Hamas’ conduct during Israel’s Gaza operation is a “victory of humanity against barbarism.” One that particularly jumps out is his advice to Obama to drop his carrot-and-stick approach to Iran, which the Iranian president points out is not respectful. “People welcome policies that are based on respect and friendship."

Israel could learn a thing from the subtleties of Iranian diplomacy.