As the world vents anger with massive protests everywhere, Israel’s effrontery toward war criminality and mockery toward peace are clearly demonstrated in its continuous slaughter of innocent Gazans in the last two weeks. Now, the UN members are wringing their hands, not knowing what to do, after a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire was rebuffed by the ‘rogue’ nation running amok with its own agenda.
However, it’s a gross mistake that Israelis don’t care what the world thinks of them or refuse to comply with any of the UN policies. By ignoring the voices of other nations, Israel not only isolates itself but also incites hatred towards Jews around the world. By not heeding advice, suggestions or UN rules, Israel has flagrantly violated international laws left and right (White phosphorus added to Israeli fire in Gaza City and Depleted uranium found in Gaza victims) while earning a reputation as a ‘bad apple’ that warrants ejection. Perhaps, Israel has forgotten that it owes the United Nations for its very existence in 1948.
Establishment of the Jewish State
On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly approved The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine Resolution 181 by terminating the British Mandate of Palestine while creating two states, one Jewish and one Arab. On May 14, 1948, the Israelis ended up with the lion’s share of 78% of British Mandatory Palestine and 40% of UN allotment while the Palestinians were reduced to 22% of land ownership, mainly the West Bank and Gaza. The birth of the state of Israel resulted in Al-Nakba disaster for the Palestinians who were forced out of their legally owned homes and properties.
If it hadn’t been for the UN, the Jews would not have been able to establish a nation of their own that they could call “home”. In fact, the UN specifically created the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1948 to monitor truces between Israel and its Arab neighbors - which remains active to this day.
Since its inception, Israel has been nothing but a thorn in the UN’s side. Not only has it consistently and persistently violated the UN Charter policies, Israel - emboldened by the U.S. support - has defiantly stepped up its barbaric methods in waging wars against its neighbors. Israel’s crime against humanity has been well recorded over the years - its monstrous practices in using internationally banned warfare arsenals: depleted uranium weapons, white-phosphorous munitions, and cluster bombs; executing extra-judicial killings with drones; and conducting inhumane torture. In its latest carnage, Israel tries to hide its atrocities - bombing the starving imprisoned population of 1.5 million Gazans - as it has banned the Red Cross, foreign aid, and foreign media coverage.
Expel Israel from United Nations
It’s time for the United Nations to take action against Israel under its stated purpose in the UN Charter.
Article 1: “To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.”
There is also a clause for expelling a member state in the UN Charter.
Article 6: “The assembly, upon the recommendation of the security council, may expel from the organization a member state which has persistently violated the charter.”
There appears to be a snag for expelling Israel because of its strong ally - the United States, one of the 5 permanent members of the Security Council - would most likely veto Israel’s ejection.
However, the U.S. under the outgoing Bush administration has also notoriously violated the international laws by committing torture of prisoners, detaining innocents in ghost prisons on land and sea and waging an illegal war in Iraq – to name a few. Furthermore, the recent fallout of the U.S. economic crisis has deflated the U.S. superpower status and its dominant influence around the world.
If the new Obama administration continues to toe the line of the Bush foreign policies that violate the UN Charter, such as the “preemptive war” which is none other than “war of aggression”, the U.S. should face removal from the Security Council. With the removal of the U.S. as a permanent member of the Security Council but retaining its status as a member of the General Assembly, the UN could then oust Israel by popular consent.
To replace the U.S. with another nation in the Security Council is not only possible but also more likely welcomed by many; for the UN has often been criticized for being a rubber stamp bureau for US dictates. Although there is no specific law that mentions the removal of a permanent member in the Security Council, the UN has done so in the past.
On October 25, 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 replaced the UN Security Council seat of Taiwan (ROC) with that of China (PRC), citing that the representatives of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as "the only legitimate representative of China to United Nations.”
Once Israel is expelled, the UN no longer has to recognize the legitimacy of its statehood – the very heart of Israel's objective in its ongoing bloody battles with its neighbors in the region.
For the UN to regain its credibility as a truly neutral and fair representative of the world, it must break free from the tentacles of the U.S. and adhere to its principles of maintaining international peace. More importantly, the UN must stop the U.S. and Israel, both of which are conducting separate wars in the Middle East, from escalating their contention in the region into a full blown WWIII.
With a warmonger state as a Security Council member supporting a 'rogue' member that defies peace in its unstoppable state terrorism, isn’t it about time that the UN do something right for a change for world peace?
--Diana Lee is a Mathaba author. Visit UniOrb:
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