Tyranny of the Majority: Israel-Bashing as Spectator Sport at Turtle Bay

This past week, the United Nations commemorated the "Annual International Solidarity Day with the Palestinian People." On Monday, the film, "La Terre Parle Arabe" or "The Land Speaks Arabic" showcased, complemented by a public exhibit mourning the 60 years of Israel's existence. The exhibit, given special prominence in the lobby of the UN, is called "The Palestinians' 60 years of Struggle and Enduring Hope."
Ironically, the date that marks the commemoration is November 29th, 1947. On that day, the U.N. voted to establish both a Jewish and an Arab state in Palestine. Had the Arab world supported the vote, the Palestinians could also be celebrating 60 years of independence. Other opportunities for Palestinian independence surfaced over the ensuing years , most notably in 2000-2001. The 'Clinton Parameters' offered at Taba early in 2001 included over 96% of contiguous West Bank land; all of Gaza; a capital in eastern Jerusalem with Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem under Palestinian Authority control; and--unbeknownst to most in the west--$30 billion in reparations for those Palestinians worldwide who chose not to exercise their 'right of return' to the new Palestinian state. The Palestinian counter-offer was the 2nd Intifada, more aptly understood by Israelis as "The Terror War."
Scant mention is made of any of this history at Turtle Bay. Instead, Israel is routinely demonized--regularly compared to the Nazis--and her very existence, sanctioned as few other modern states have been, by the very same United Nations that works so tirelessly to delegitimize her, is under constant question.
Six resolutions have just been adopted condemning only Israel for human rights violations--see below. The total number of resolutions against Israel by the General Assembly is expected to reach 20 this fall. That compares with only 4 resolutions critical of human rights records in any of the remaining 191 UN member nations. Those other member nations include Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Congo, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.
And on Tuesday, the President of the GA, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, implored his all-too-willing accomplices to call a spade a spade, and label Israel as a practitioner of Apartheid.
"Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories appear so similar to the apartheid of an earlier era, a continent away, and I believe it is very important we in the United Nations use this term," d'Escoto Brockmann said. "We must not be afraid to call something for what it is."
Not Judenrein Saudi Arabia, where Christian and Jewish bibles are forbidden, where women cannot drive or vote, where petty theft can merit hand amputations, and where alleged adultery can be the cause for 'stoning to death.' Rather, it is Israel, where come February's elections, it is quite possible that women will head all three branches of government, where 10 Arab ministers exercise their parliamentary duties in the Knesset; Israel, with Arabs on the Supreme Court; Israel, where Arab women enjoy freedom of speech, religion & the right to vote; Israel, a champion of gay rights, is the country singled out for excoriation.
The Jerusalem Post's response:
"To state the obvious: The conflict between the Jewish people and the Palestinian Arabs has nothing to do with apartheid.
There is no system of racial segregation in the West Bank. There is a state of de-facto belligerency between West Bank Palestinians and Israeli Jews. Hamas-controlled Gaza seeks Israel's annihilation, not civil rights. Jews are not colonizers in Judea and Samaria. Nevertheless, Israel's government is ready to abandon much of the Jews' ancient heartland for peace with security.
As the padre (Catholic Priest & GA Pres, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann) speaks from the den of iniquity that is the General Assembly, we ask: "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3)
As Yossi Klein Halevi has noted, for Israelis, the Jewish concept of Tikun Olam is about more than just doing good in the world. It is also about resisting evil in its myriad forms. World Jewry must take up that mantle as well and take the lead in confronting Turtle Bay. The consequences of remaining silent could again prove disastrous for our people.
david brumer
seattle

General Assembly adopts six resolutions condemning Israel (Press Release

The UN, Israel and racism
in The Economist on Durban II
Nov. 27, 2008
The whole thing was a “festival of hate and anti-Semitism”, says Hillel Neuer, head of UN Watch. He predicts the Geneva meeting will be just as bad. Its cause is not helped by the fact that it is being organised by the UN’s much-criticised Human Rights Council, with Libya chairing a preparatory panel that includes Iran, Cuba, Russia and Pakistan.

UN General Assembly President Accuses Israel of Apartheid and Calls for a Campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Against Israel The President of the UN General Assembly has launched an unprecedented attack on a UN member state from the Assembly podium. Going beyond even existing UN resolutions, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua accused Israel of apartheid and called for "a campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions" against it. Reminiscent of a classic antisemitic slur, Brockmann (himself a Roman Catholic priest and one-time official of the World Council of Churches) also claimed our Palestinian "brothers and sisters are being crucified" by Israel.His remarks were made on November 24, 2008 during the UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This annual event marks the adoption of the General Assembly's partition resolution which called for the creation of a Jewish and an Arab state on November 29, 1947. (11/25/2008)
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United Nations: Observance Of International Day Of Solidarity With Palestinian People To Be Held At United Nations Headquarters On 24 November

Top UN official: Israel's policies are like apartheid of bygone era
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

Israeli ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev in September called Brockmann an "Israel hater" for having hugged Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a vocal enemy of Israel. Meanwhile, other diplomatic attacks against Israel were expected Tuesday on the second day of the annual debate. The event is usually observed on November 29, to coincide with the UN's resolution in 1947 to establish a Jewish and an Arab state in Palestine.

Israel Protests Boycott Call by UN General Assembly President - Yitzhak BenhorinIsrael filed a formal complaint with the UN on Tuesday over statements made by General Assembly President Father Miguel Brockmann of Nicaragua, who called for an international boycott of Israel after accusing it of being an apartheid regime. The UN is currently marking its annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and the General Assembly is hosting a series of anti-Israel venues, including films comparing Israel to the Nazi regime. Israeli Ambassador Gabriella Shalev slammed the UN as being disconnected from reality, and lamented its anti-Israel tone at a time when Israel is engaged in peace talks with the PA. She said if discussions were to focus on the Middle East, they should also touch on Iran's repeated threats to destroy Israel, Syria's armament of terror ists, Hamas' rocket attacks on Israeli towns, and Hizbullah's growing strength. (Ynet News)

Hipocrita
Given its long history of having one set of rules for the Jewish state and another for everyone else, it is all too tempting for decent men and women to block out the UN's Annual Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People which has consecrated November 29 as a day of hate against, and delegitimization of, the Jewish state.
But at this newspaper we are haunted by the words of Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."