The UN is on the Job

Anne Bayefsky describes the latest annual report by U.N.-appointed “human rights” expert John Dugard to the General Assembly, with a sampling of his comments:

“I wish we could get rid of the word ‘terror’ in this debate…I appeal to the Israeli government:…If you label your opponent a terrorist, it becomes very difficult to start negotiating with him…I appeal to the Israeli government to discontinue using this term…”

Referring to the situation of Palestinian farmers, he said: “in other countries this process might be described as ethnic cleansing but political correctness forbids such language where Israel is concerned.”

“IDF soldiers…seem to regard all Palestinians as terrorists.” 

“Israel’s desire for Palestinian land is insatiable.” 

Yesterday the U.N.’s First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) approved 12 draft texts “aimed at strengthening regional disarmament measures and reducing the global threat of the use of nuclear and other mass destruction weapons.”  You’d think the Committee would be concerned about Iran’s on-going disregard of the IAEA and a binding U.N. Security Council Resolution regarding its nuclear program, but you would of course be wrong:

The Committee approved a draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East that would have the Assembly reaffirm the importance of Israel’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and placement of all its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

That text was approved by a recorded vote of 156 in favour to 4 against (Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 6 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Tonga).

The U.N thinks the key to human rights is for Israel to stop using the word “terrorist,” and the key threat to nuclear proliferation is . . . Israel.

Here is the Committee’s draft to “prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction:”

[T]he Committee approved a draft on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.  That draft would have the Assembly appeal to all Member States to consider signing and ratifying the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, in order to bring about its early entry into force and have the Assembly urge all Member States to strengthen national measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

Maybe they should just outlaw war. Or at least define terrorism.