UN Resolutions meant to hound Western-targeted nations : Sri Lanka-Israel comparison

One of the complaints made by Israel over the years is that there is a disproportionate number of Resolutions against its country. What Israel does not acknowledge is that none of these Resolutions get anywhere because almost always the US uses its veto power or forces watering down of allegations. Thus the Resolutions end up a mere joke and just a number used statistically to place on record that UN records Resolutions against even Israel. 62% of all Resolutions have been against Israel. You will not find the US/UK or EU going after Israel as it is currently doing against Sri Lanka where the country continues to challenge US and Allies whose military interventions have left countries in disarray to match Sri Lanka’s post-conflict progress on all fronts. The point being drawn is that the UN/UNHRC is not the EQUAL TREATMENT provider that it promised to be and officials of the UN/UNHRC are not impartial/unbiased either. The most important next question is what Member Nations propose to do to change the current status quo leading to dangerous proportions unless checked.

In the eyes of Israel the UN is anti-Israel and they use the Resolutions against Israel at the UN/UNHRC to prove so. Yet, inspite of piling Resolutions there is never any threats to Israel, no sanctions, no development aid denial, no asset freeze threats nothing that would happen to another country with similar number of Resolutions had they not had the influence that Israel gets from US and Allies. This is where the difference lies. Inspite of the Resolutions against Israel, when the US envoy Samantha Power says ‘I will never give up’ the fight to get Israel on UN Security Council simply proves the biased nature and double standards.

Even if the UN/UNHRC passes thousand more Resolutions against Israel they will either be vetoed by the US and one can be assured that no Ban ki Moon or Pillay would ever go hounding Israel and she would never dare to propose her team to be placed in Israel to monitor violations. This is the difference.

Compare that to the manner UNHRC head is behaving against Sri Lanka. A good breakdown of her statements over the years for even minor incidents taking place in Sri Lanka will show the vindictive attitude she has towards Sri Lanka. We have repeatedly proved this and put it down to a very clear conflict of interest. She is a Tamil and thus emotionally, genetically and ethnically aligned to the aspiration for the Tamils to have a homeland of their own. We seriously question whether it should be in Sri Lanka where only 2million Tamils live as against Tamil Nadu India, where 72million of the worlds 76million Tamil already live and from where the separation bid first started. Pilly’s oral reports and submissions tying up non-Resolution related issues is to use them as a podium to enter Sri Lanka where she proposes to create the plebiscite that the US is plotting alongside other Allies to carve for themselves an area in Sri Lanka with Tamil Nadu eventually linked. The icing of HR issues being used is nothing but a smokescreen and a camouflage.

You would expect that Israel with over 400 Resolutions against it, the UNHRC head Navi Pillay would call for an international investigation or even refer these cases to the ICC as she has done in the case of Libya and Syria and calling for a UNHRC led investigation in the case of Sri Lanka just because US say’s it is ‘losing patience’ inspite of having no complaints to make in the manner Sri Lanka has dealt with the post-conflict. 13th amendment and other aspects that tend to pile upon the Resolutions made against Sri Lanka and through the Pillay reports have nothing whatsoever to do with the initial Resolution thereby clearly establishing a non-disclosed understanding between Western states and Pillay. Who will investigate these allegations and even if done will they ever get anywhere for the allegations that come from smaller less powerful nations appear to lead nowhere. So what equality is the UN or UNHRC actually preaching when in practice the exact opposite happens?

Returning to the comparison on Israel and Sri Lanka vis a vis the Resolution factor what is being argued is that there is a very clear imbalance in approach, a very discriminatory attitude by UN officials and the UN system itself. We were made to understand whether nations large or small would be treated EQUALLY as given in the UN Charter itself. It does not seem to be happening.

If equal treatment is not been given what can a member do except to make such discrimination publicly known and what can other members do? They must themselves evaluate the realism behind the allegations made and resolve to stand up for smaller nations that are being hounded by larger ones using the UN as a tool and UN officials as puppets. Member nations must immediately wonder whether even their nation is likely to become an eventual target.

2010, five Resolutions were brought against Israel at the UNHRC. In 2013, 21 Resolutions were brought against Israel at the UN.

1. Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan

Votes: 31 in favor / 15 abstained (including UK, Japan) – US voted against

2. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

Votes: 45 in favor / NO abstentions – US voted against

3. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

Votes: 46 in favor / NO abstentions – US voted against

4. The grave human rights violations by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

Votes: 31 in favor / 7 abstentions – 9 against (Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and United States of America)

5. Follow-up to the report of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict

Votes: 29 in favor / 11 abstentions – 6 against (Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine, and United States of America)

US Vetoes of Resolutions Against Israel, 1972-1990. 

1. “…condemned Israel’s attack against Southern against southern Lebanon and Syria…”
2. “…affirmed the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, statehood and equal protections…”
3. “…condemned Israel’s air strikes and attacks in southern Lebanon and its murder of innocent civilians…”
4. “…called for self-determination of Palestinian people…”
5. “…deplored Israel’s altering of the status of Jerusalem, which is recognized as an international city by most world nations and the United Nations…”
6. “…affirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people…”
7. “…endorsed self-determination for the Palestinian people…”
8. “…demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights…”
9. “…condemned Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip and its refusal to abide by the Geneva convention protocols of civilized nations…”
10. “…condemned an Israeli soldier who shot eleven Moslem worshippers at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount near Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem…”
11. “…urged sanctions against Israel if it did not withdraw from its invasion of Lebanon…”
12. “…urged sanctions against Israel if it did not withdraw from its invasion of Beirut…”
13. “…urged cutoff of economic aid to Israel if it refused to withdraw from its occupation of Lebanon…”
14. “…condemned continued Israeli settlements in occupied territories in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, denouncing them as an obstacle to peace…”
15. “…deplores Israel’s brutal massacre of Arabs in Lebanon and urges its withdrawal…”
16. “…condemned Israeli brutality in southern Lebanon and denounced the Israeli ‘Iron Fist’ policy of repression…”
17. “…denounced Israel’s violation of human rights in the occupied territories…”
18. “…deplored Israel’s violence in southern Lebanon…”
19. “…deplored Israel’s activities in occupied Arab East Jerusalem that threatened the sanctity of Muslim holy sites…”
20. “…condemned Israel’s hijacking of a Libyan passenger airplane…”
21. “…deplored Israel’s attacks against Lebanon and its measures and practices against the civilian population of Lebanon…”
22. “…called on Israel to abandon its policies against the Palestinian intifada that violated the rights of occupied Palestinians, to abide by the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and to formalize a leading role for the United Nations in future peace negotiations…”
23. “…urged Israel to accept back deported Palestinians, condemned Israel’s shooting of civilians, called on Israel to uphold the Fourth Geneva Convention, and called for a peace settlement under UN auspices…”
24. “…condemned Israel’s… incursion into Lebanon…”
25. “…deplored Israel’s… commando raids on Lebanon…”
26. “…deplored Israel’s repression of the Palestinian intifada and called on Israel to respect the human rights of the Palestinians…”
27. “…deplored Israel’s violation of the human rights of the Palestinians…”
28. “…demanded that Israel return property confiscated from Palestinians during a tax protest and allow a fact-finding mission to observe Israel’s crackdown on the Palestinian intifada…”
29. “…called for a fact-finding mission on abuses against Palestinians in Israeli-occupied lands…”

(From Findley’s Deliberate Deceptions, pages 192 – 194)

UN Resolutions Against Israel, 1955-1992.

Note that Israel is in VIOLATION of many of these Resolutions.

1. Resolution 106: “…condemns Israel for Gaza raid”
2. Resolution 111: “…condemns Israel for raid on Syria that killed fifty-six people”
3. Resolution 127: “…recommends Israel suspend its ‘no-man’s zone’ in Jerusalem”
4. Resolution 162: “…urges Israel to comply with UN decisions”
5. Resolution 171: “…determines flagrant violations by Israel in its attack on Syria”
6. Resolution 228: “…censures Israel for its attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control”
7. Resolution 237: “…urges Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees”
8. Resolution 248: “…condemns Israel for its massive attack on Karameh in Jordan”
9. Resolution 250: “…calls on Israel to refrain from holding military parade in Jerusalem”
10. Resolution 251: “…deeply deplores Israeli military parade in Jerusalem in defiance of Resolution 250″
11. Resolution 252: “…declares invalid Israel’s acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital”
12. Resolution 256: “…condemns Israeli raids on Jordan as flagrant violation”
13. Resolution 259: “…deplores Israel’s refusal to accept UN mission to probe occupation”
14. Resolution 262: “…condemns Israel for attack on Beirut airport”
15. Resolution 265: “…condemns Israel for air attacks for Salt in Jordan”
16. Resolution 267: “…censures Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem”
17. Resolution 270: “…condemns Israel for air attacks on villages in southern Lebanon”
18. Resolution 271: “…condemns Israel’s failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem”
19. Resolution 279: “…demands withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon”
20. Resolution 280: “…condemns Israeli’s attacks against Lebanon”
21. Resolution 285: “…demands immediate Israeli withdrawal form Lebanon”
22. Resolution 298: “…deplores Israel’s changing of the status of Jerusalem”
23. Resolution 313: “…demands that Israel stop attacks against Lebanon”
24. Resolution 316: “…condemns Israel for repeated attacks on Lebanon”
25. Resolution 317: “…deplores Israel’s refusal to release Arabs abducted in Lebanon”
26. Resolution 332: “…condemns Israel’s repeated attacks against Lebanon”
27. Resolution 337: “…condemns Israel for violating Lebanon’s sovereignty”
28. Resolution 347: “…condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon”
29. Resolution 425: “…calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon”
30. Resolution 427: “…calls on Israel to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon”
31. Resolution 444: “…deplores Israel’s lack of cooperation with UN peacekeeping forces”
32. Resolution 446: “…determines that Israeli settlements are a serious obstruction to peace and calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention“
33. Resolution 450: “…calls on Israel to stop attacking Lebanon”
34. Resolution 452: “…calls on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories”
35. Resolution 465: “…deplores Israel’s settlements and asks all member states not to assist Israel’s settlements program”
36. Resolution 467: “…strongly deplores Israel’s military intervention in Lebanon”
37. Resolution 468: “…calls on Israel to rescind illegal expulsions of two Palestinian mayors and a judge and to facilitate their return”
38. Resolution 469: “…strongly deplores Israel’s failure to observe the council’s order not to deport Palestinians”
39. Resolution 471: “…expresses deep concern at Israel’s failure to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention“
40. Resolution 476: “…reiterates that Israel’s claims to Jerusalem are null and void”
41. Resolution 478: “…censures (Israel) in the strongest terms for its claim to Jerusalem in its ‘Basic Law'”
42. Resolution 484: “…declares it imperative that Israel re-admit two deported Palestinian mayors”
43. Resolution 487: “…strongly condemns Israel for its attack on Iraq’s nuclear facility”
44. Resolution 497: “…decides that Israel’s annexation of Syria’s Golan Heights is null and void and demands that Israel rescind its decision forthwith”
45. Resolution 498: “…calls on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon”
46. Resolution 501: “…calls on Israel to stop attacks against Lebanon and withdraw its troops”
47. Resolution 509: “…demands that Israel withdraw its forces forthwith and unconditionally from Lebanon”
48. Resolution 515: “…demands that Israel lift its siege of Beirut and allow food supplies to be brought in”
49. Resolution 517: “…censures Israel for failing to obey UN resolutions and demands that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanon”
50. Resolution 518: “…demands that Israel cooperate fully with UN forces in Lebanon”
51. Resolution 520: “…condemns Israel’s attack into West Beirut”
52. Resolution 573: “…condemns Israel vigorously for bombing Tunisia in attack on PLO headquarters”
53. Resolution 587: “…takes note of previous calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and urges all parties to withdraw”
54. Resolution 592: “…strongly deplores the killing of Palestinian students at Bir Zeit University by Israeli troops”
55. Resolution 605: “…strongly deplores Israel’s policies and practices denying the human rights of Palestinians”
56. Resolution 607: “…calls on Israel not to deport Palestinians and strongly requests it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention”
57. Resolution 608: “…deeply regrets that Israel has defied the United Nations and deported Palestinian civilians”
58. Resolution 636: “…deeply regrets Israeli deportation of Palestinian civilians”
59. Resolution 641: “…deplores Israel’s continuing deportation of Palestinians”
60. Resolution 672: “…condemns Israel for violence against Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount”
61. Resolution 673: “…deplores Israel’s refusal to cooperate with the United Nations”
62. Resolution 681: “…deplores Israel’s resumption of the deportation of Palestinians”
63. Resolution 694: “…deplores Israel’s deportation of Palestinians and calls on it to ensure their safe and immediate return”
64. Resolution 726: “…strongly condemns Israel’s deportation of Palestinians”
65. Resolution 799: “…strongly condemns Israel’s deportation of 413 Palestinians and calls for their immediate return.”

(From Findley’s Deliberate Deceptions, pages 188 – 192)

Shenali D Waduge