Israel Matzav

Jeanne Kirkpatrick on how the PLO was legitimized

In his tribute to former US ambassador to the UN Jeanne Kirkpatrick, who passed away on Friday, Soccer Dad links to a 1989 article that Kirkpatrick wrote about how the PLO was legitimized in the eyes of the world. As you read the article, keep in mind that the 'intifadeh' under discussion there is the one from the late 1980's, in which stones were the weapon of choice.

Kirkpatrick had some fascinating and prescient observations in that article. I can't really cut and paste from a .pdf document, but here are some of her points about the UN itself:

1. The UN is not an organization that resolves conflicts - as most people think - but rather one that legitimizes and delegitimizes collectives.

2. The UN has legitimized the use of force by the PLO (and today the 'Palestinians') by characterizing them as a struggle against 'colonialism,' 'imperialism' and 'racism.'

3. Characterizing the 'Palestinian struggle' in this manner involves countries around the world in the 'Palestinian struggle' that ought not to have any connection with the 'Palestinians.'

4. The countries that oppose 'colonialism,' 'imperialism' and 'racism' constitute an automatic majority at the United Nations.

5. The UN has legitimized the use of force against member states by 'peoples,' providing in a 1970 General Assembly resolution that "all peoples freely have the right to determine without external influences their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and every state has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the charter."

Moreover: "Every state has the duty to refrain from any forcible action which deprives people... of their right to self-determination and freedom and independence. In their actions against resistance to such forcible action in pursuit of the exercise of self-determination, such peoples are entitled to seek and receive support in accordance with the purposes and principles of the charter."

The General Assembly thus put the rights of "peoples" ahead of the rights of states.

From there she continues to explain how the 'Palestinians' took advantage of this creation of a 'people' and a conflict.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:12 PM