(Washington, D.C., Dec. 6, 2018)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
We salute the United States mission to the United Nations, and particularly Ambassador Nikki Haley, for initiating a first-time, explicit U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) repudiation of Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, for its culpability in relentless and recently escalated attacks against Israeli civilians from that territory and its reckless exploitation of Palestinians. Although the resolution garnered a plurality of votes, it failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required due to a procedural roadblock. Haley rightly pointed out this roadblock was a clear double standard, as just last week the U.N. General Assembly passed numerous resolutions under the same agenda item attacking Israel with no similar two-thirds majority requirement. Indeed, another resolution — tabled by Ireland — was passed at this same session without any discussion of a need for such a two-thirds majority.
The resolution against Hamas was part of ongoing and determined efforts to demand a far more responsible and unbiased U.N. approach to Arab-Israeli issues and is critical to meaningful efforts at actual peacemaking. We commend the 87 countries that supported this manifestly just and common-sense resolution and take note of the 33 countries that declined to support the resolution through their abstention.
Despite Hamas’s long history of targeting Israeli civilians with rockets, digging tunnels into Israel and carrying out suicide bombing attacks, this resolution was the first time that the U.N. General Assembly has almost condemned Hamas by name. We are appalled by the numerous ploys the Palestinians and their allies at the U.N. have used to sink this important resolution. The double-standard that was ultimately used to deny a plurality of the U.N. General Assembly passage of this critical resolution clearly shows that anti-Semitism continues to plague the world body. All countries that voted in favor of requiring a two-thirds majority are as complicit in this stain on the U.N.’s reputation as those who ultimately voted against this resolution.
The U.N. was founded to work toward global peace and security. Until its member states are able to recognize that the terrorism employed by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups in the region is a key factor holding back any attempt at a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the U.N. will continue to wallow in its own irrelevance.
B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org
We salute the United States mission to the United Nations, and particularly Ambassador Nikki Haley, for initiating a first-time, explicit U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) repudiation of Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, for its culpability in relentless and recently escalated attacks against Israeli civilians from that territory and its reckless exploitation of Palestinians. Although the resolution garnered a plurality of votes, it failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required due to a procedural roadblock. Haley rightly pointed out this roadblock was a clear double standard, as just last week the U.N. General Assembly passed numerous resolutions under the same agenda item attacking Israel with no similar two-thirds majority requirement. Indeed, another resolution — tabled by Ireland — was passed at this same session without any discussion of a need for such a two-thirds majority.
The resolution against Hamas was part of ongoing and determined efforts to demand a far more responsible and unbiased U.N. approach to Arab-Israeli issues and is critical to meaningful efforts at actual peacemaking. We commend the 87 countries that supported this manifestly just and common-sense resolution and take note of the 33 countries that declined to support the resolution through their abstention.
Despite Hamas’s long history of targeting Israeli civilians with rockets, digging tunnels into Israel and carrying out suicide bombing attacks, this resolution was the first time that the U.N. General Assembly has almost condemned Hamas by name. We are appalled by the numerous ploys the Palestinians and their allies at the U.N. have used to sink this important resolution. The double-standard that was ultimately used to deny a plurality of the U.N. General Assembly passage of this critical resolution clearly shows that anti-Semitism continues to plague the world body. All countries that voted in favor of requiring a two-thirds majority are as complicit in this stain on the U.N.’s reputation as those who ultimately voted against this resolution.
The U.N. was founded to work toward global peace and security. Until its member states are able to recognize that the terrorism employed by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups in the region is a key factor holding back any attempt at a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the U.N. will continue to wallow in its own irrelevance.
B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org
