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How the UN Misrepresents the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

(Jerusalem Post) Amb. Alan Baker - Norwegian diplomat Tor Wennesland, the UN's resident representative in Jerusalem, has been particularly vocal in condemning Israel and adopting almost in totality a biased and one-sided Palestinian narrative. During the May 9-13 IDF operation against the Gaza-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, Wennesland declared, "I am deeply alarmed by developments in Gaza after Israel launched a military operation this morning targeting members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)." Wennesland seems to ignore the fact that on May 2, PIJ fired 104 projectiles from Gaza into Israeli population centers. One might expect that the one senior official whose function includes coordination of the Middle East peace process would at least make some attempt to address the realities within which he is functioning in an honest manner and conduct himself with the impartiality and neutrality as is required by the UN Charter. It is surely inconceivable that such a senior official could routinely and glibly condemn Israel for conducting military action in response to blatant terror attacks. Articles 100 and 101 of the UN Charter require UN officials to exercise "the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity." Staff Regulations 1.1 and 1.2 require that the political and religious views and convictions of UN officials and staff do not adversely affect their official duties. In light of his clear predisposition against Israel in contravention of the UN's own internal rules, it might be appropriate that the UN review the functioning of Tor Wennesland and recall him. The writer, former legal adviser to Israel's Foreign Ministry, directs the International Law Program at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
2023-06-08 00:00:00
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