Israel Matzav

'UN discriminates against Israel' says... Susan Rice?!?

I think we can bring out the flying pig for this one.

The United States' ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, criticized the UN General Assembly during a speech at NYU on Wednesday for discriminating against Israel.

Rice said the 192-nation United Nations needed reform, continued to single out Israel for criticism and let "political theater distract from real deliberation," but she also described it as an "imperfect yet indispensable institution."

"There is no substitute for the legitimacy the UN can impart or its potential to mobilize the widest possible coalitions," she said. "There is no better alternative to sharing the costs and burdens of UN peace operations and humanitarian missions around the world."

I'd be willing to consider the UN legitimate if it would treat Israel like any other country in the world. Until then, sorry but no.

The real question is what - if anything - the United States can do to change the United Nations' agenda. Given the one-country-one-vote situation in the UN General Assembly, there is little that the United States can do to change the agenda. For that reason, many conservatives have advocated giving up on the UN altogether.

Also for that reason, I am very uncomfortable with the notion of 'UN peace operations.' We have one close by in southern Lebanon and it has been ineffective (mostly because of its rules of engagement). It has allowed Hezbullah to re-arm. I'd rather not see them in our region.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:12 PM