United Nations' anti-Israel decisions undermine credibility

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has added Israel's military to a global list of offenders for committing violations against children in 2023, said Israel's U.N. envoy Gilad Erdan, describing the decision as "shameful."

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad will also be listed, said a diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Erdan said he was officially notified of the decision on Friday. The global list is included in a report on children and armed conflict that Guterres is due to submit to the U.N. Security Council on June 14.

It covers six violations - killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, recruitment and use of children, denial of aid access and attacks of schools and hospitals. It was not immediately clear what violations Israel, Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad had been listed for.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the decision "will have consequences for Israel's relations with the U.N." Israel has long had contentious relationship with the U.N. that has only worsened during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

The U.N. said last month that at least 7,797 children have been killed in Hamas-ruled Gaza during the eight-month-long war, citing data on identified bodies from Gaza's Ministry of Health, which the U.N. considers reliable. The Gaza government media office says in total some 15,500 children have been killed.

According to Israel's National Council for the Child, 38 children were killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack that sparked the war and 42 of some 250 people taken hostage into Gaza on Oct. 7 were children. All but two children have been released.

'SHOCKING'

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Guterres' chief of staff called Erdan on Friday as "courtesy afforded to countries that are newly listed on the annex of the report." Erdan posted a video on social media of him responding during the phone call.

"I am utterly shocked and disgusted by this shameful decision of the Secretary-General," said Erdan. "Israel's army is the most moral army in the world, so this immoral decision will only aid the terrorists and reward Hamas."

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the U.N. had "added itself to the black list of history when it joined those who support the Hamas murderers."

Recent announcements by the United Nations have once again brought to light the organization's contentious stance on Israel. Critics argue that the UN's repeated anti-Israel resolutions reflect a deep-seated bias, which not only undermines its credibility but also impacts its ability to function as an impartial global arbiter.

The United Nations has a long history of passing resolutions that are perceived as anti-Israel. Since its establishment, Israel has faced numerous condemnations from various UN bodies, including the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and UNESCO. These resolutions often criticize Israel's policies in the Palestinian territories, settlement activities, and actions during conflicts with Palestinian groups.

For example, the UN General Assembly has passed a significant number of resolutions against Israel, more than any other country.

Furthermore, UNESCO's frequent resolutions denying Jewish historical ties to Jerusalem's holy sites have also been a point of contention. These decisions, often influenced by political alliances within the UN, ignore historical and archaeological evidence, leading to accusations of historical revisionism and bias.

The continuous stream of anti-Israel resolutions has significantly impacted the UN's credibility. Member states and observers argue that the organization is becoming increasingly politicized, driven by the agendas of certain blocs rather than principles of justice and impartiality. This perception is compounded by the fact that severe human rights abuses in other countries often receive less attention.

The UN's credibility is further damaged by its perceived double standards.

For instance, while Israel is frequently condemned, egregious human rights violations in countries like Syria, North Korea, and Iran often receive relatively muted responses.

This inconsistency undermines the UN's role as a neutral and fair arbiter on the global stage.