The Case for Suspending Israel’s UN Membership - I agree with the UN Special Rapporteur, @FranceskAlbs
https://x.com/tayab_ali_/status/1853074873909723224
The Case for Suspending Israel’s UN Membership - I agree with the UN Special Rapporteur,
The question of whether Israel should retain its place in the United Nations is no longer hypothetical; it's a matter we must urgently address.
The UN Charter and the standards of international law, make it clear that Israel has, time and again, challenged the boundaries of accountability and in fact acceptability.
Given the relentless nature of its occupation of Palestinian territories, its treatment of UN facilities, and its direct attacks on UN staff, the question must be asked: how long can the international community look the other way?
Under Article Six of the UN Charter, the General Assembly has the authority to suspend a member state for persistent violations of the principles that bind the organisation together.
Israel's case stands out as particularly egregious. As pointed out by Albanese, its occupation of Palestinian territories has been deemed unlawful by not one, but two International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgments. In 2004, the ICJ unequivocally condemned the occupation, marking it as incompatible with international law. And yet, nearly two decades later, little has changed.
Israel’s disregard extends beyond its occupation policies. It has repeatedly dismissed hundreds of UN resolutions urging compliance with international humanitarian and human rights standards. This disregard includes violations of the Apartheid and Genocide Conventions—cornerstones of the global commitment to preventing atrocity and oppression. But even as these warnings go unheeded, the international community fails to act.
The situation has escalated dramatically in recent years. Just this year, Israel’s military attacks on UN facilities in Gaza reached an unprecedented level. Seventy percent of UNRWA facilities, including clinics and food distribution centres, have reportedly been shelled by Israeli forces, resulting in the deaths of at least 230 UN staff members. Attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon have added to a growing pattern of aggression toward those who, in theory, should be untouchable under international law setting a dangerous precedent for other aggressors in other conflicts.
And it’s not only physical attacks that are at issue. The Israeli government has launched a campaign of defamation and intimidation targeting senior UN officials, and the Secretary-General has been declared persona non grata. The entire General Assembly has been dismissed as a “crowd of antisemites,” effectively undermining the UN’s impartiality and credibility. These actions not only damage the UN’s standing but also raise the stakes of allowing one member to so brazenly defy the very institution it is part of.
Perhaps most troubling is Israel's recent law banning UNRWA, the UN agency dedicated to Palestinian refugees, labeling it a terrorist organisation. This move effectively eliminates vital aid and support to some of the most vulnerable populations in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. In doing so, Israel is not only obstructing humanitarian assistance but also sending a clear message: international rules and institutions hold no sway over its policies.
By allowing Israel’s actions to go unchecked, the UN risks eroding its credibility and legitimacy. The organisation was founded to uphold peace, protect human rights, and prevent the kind of abuses we now see regularly inflicted on the Palestinian people. Failure to take a stand will not only embolden other states with similar ambitions but will signal to the world that some nations are simply above the law.
This is not a question of politics; it is a question of principle. How can the UN, with its mandate to prevent harm and protect the vulnerable, justify the ongoing membership of a state that disregards these ideals so flagrantly? If the UN is to maintain its relevance and integrity, it must confront the reality of Israel’s actions and consider the suspension of its membership.
For the sake of international law, human rights, and the very principles that bind the United Nations, the time for decisive action is now.
theguardian.com/world/2024/oct
posted by Satish Sharma at
01:48
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