Record of the United Nations, why is it so
anti-Israel
One of the reasons the United Nations is so
anti-Israel is because the General Assembly gives one vote per member country,
and there are simply many more small developing Islamic countries than
large non-Islamic developed countries.
Because many of these smaller developing
countries suffered under Western colonialism the General Assembly also
has an anti-Western bias.
Israel, ironically, is seen by many countries
as the last bastion of Western colonialism -- partly because the Palestine
Mandate for the Jewish National Home predates the U.N. and dates back to
the League of Nations -- even though it became a nation about the same
time, and in the same way as many African and other Middle Eastern nations.
Israel also has resorted to legislation
and documents that predate the United Nations, sometimes ignoring the UN
resolutions and always to its consternation. Although changing
in recent years, Israel held its right for Jews to live on the Jewish National
Home to supersede any right or restriction emanating from the U.N.
Anti-Semitism
in the United Nations is also a factor.
Troubled History of Israeli
Participation in U.N.
"The United Nations has presented
itself to the world as a bastion for equality," Rep. Rothman stated, "except
when it comes to the State of Israel." Calling it a "double-standard,"
Rothman noted Israel is the only member state at the U.N. that has been
denied a seat on the Security Council.
Israel has regularly met
resistance from Arab and other non-Western states within the international
organization. American policymakers, are concerned that Israel has consistently
been denied access to many U.N. bodies, including the Security Council
which offers seats on a rotating basis to individual member states representing
their respective regional groups. Israel has been refused a seat within
its own geographic regional group, the Asian States, which contains Arab
member
states that consider the Jewish state to exist on "occupied territory."
Member states from the Middle
East, including the Palestinian Authority, cite development of disputed
Arab territory in East Jerusalem as yet another reason to deny Israel representation
in their regional group. The U.S., in an attempt to promote a compromise,
has supported allowing Israel to join the Western European and Others Group
(WEOG), which includes Canada and Australia. However, the U.S. only sits
as an "observer" in WEOG; though the U.S. is considered a member for electoral
status, European Union (EU) member states oppose the idea of including
Israel in the regional group.
Reasons for First Meeting
in 50 Years Questioned
The House passed a resolution,
14 July 1999, urging the Department of State, member states of the U.N.,
and the Secretary-General to resist convening "for the first time in 50
years" the parties to the convention. The Fourth Geneva Convention was
originally adopted as a response to World War II atrocities against European
Jews. However, this week's meeting would address housing policies implemented
by former Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's Likud Party. In recent years
Israel has constructed housing for Jewish settlers in the largely Arab
populated East Jerusalem - against the recommendation of the United States
and the protests of the Palestinian Authority.
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), in
his opening statements, brought a unique perspective to the purpose of
opposing the meeting of the Geneva Convention, drawing commendations from
his committee colleagues. The Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor reminded
those in attendance that the Convention was established by Western Allies
in part to help displaced Jews in their post-war resettlement. Lantos also
noted that Secretary General Kofi Annan should be a trusted partner in
this cause since Mrs. Annan is the niece of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg,
a hero of the Holocaust. Lantos and his wife were among the Jews saved
by Wallenberg.
Lantos expressed hope that
Arab states will allow Israel's democratic economy to create a "renaissance"
in the region.
Source: Washington
Report
World Religions
| Afghanistan |
Islam (Sunni, 84%; Shi'ite,
15%; other 1%) |
| Albania |
Muslim, 70%; Albanian Orthodox,
20%; Roman Catholic, 10% |
| Algeria |
99% Islam (Sunni) |
| Andorra |
Roman Catholic |
| Angola |
Roman Catholic, 47%; Protestant,
38%; Indigenous, 15% |
| Antigua and Barbuda |
Anglican and Roman Catholic |
| Argentina |
Roman Catholic 92%, Protestant
2%, Jewish 2%, other 4% |
| Armenia |
Armenian Orthodox, 94% |
| Australia |
Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic
26.0%, other Christian 24.3% |
| Austria |
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
6%, other 9% |
| Azerbaijan |
Muslim, 87%; Russian Orthodox,
5.6%; Armenian Orthodox, 2%. |
| Bahamas |
Baptist, 29%; Anglican,
23%; Roman Catholic, 22%, others |
| Bahrain |
Islam |
| Bangladesh |
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist,
Christian, other |
| Barbados |
Anglican, 40%; Methodist,
7%; Pentecostal, 8%; Roman Catholic, 4% |
| Belarus |
Orthodoxy is predominant |
| Belgium |
Roman Catholic, 75% |
| Belize |
Roman Catholic, 62%; Protestant,
30% |
| Benin |
indigenous, 70%; Christian,
15%; Islam, 15% |
| Bhutan |
Buddhist, 75%; Hindu, 25% |
| Bolivia |
Roman Catholic, 85% |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Slavic Muslim, 44%; Orthodox,
31%; Catholic, 15%; Protestant, 4%, other, 6%. |
| Botswana |
indigenous beliefs, 50%;
Christian, 50% |
| Brazil |
Roman Catholic, 90% (nominal) |
| Brunei Darussalam |
Islam (official religion),
67%; Buddhist, 12%; Christian, 9%; indigenous beliefs and other, 12% |
| Bulgaria |
Bulgarian Orthodox 85%,
Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant,
Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5% |
| Burkina Faso |
Muslim, 50%; Christian (mainly
Roman Catholic), 10%; indigenous beliefs, 40% |
| Burundi |
Roman Catholic, 62%; Protestant,
5%; indigenous, 32% |
| Cambodia |
95% Theravada Buddhist,
5% others |
| Cameroon |
51% indigenous beliefs,
33% Christian, 16% Muslim |
| Canada |
46% Roman Catholic, 16%
United Church, 10% Anglican |
| Cape Verde |
Roman Catholic fused with
indigenous beliefs |
| Central African Republic |
24% indigenous beliefs,
50% Protestant and Roman Catholic with animist influence, 15% Muslim, 11%
other |
| Chad |
Islam, 44%; Christian, 33%;
traditional, 23% |
| Chile |
Roman Catholic, 89%; Protestant,
11%; small Jewish and Muslim populations |
| China |
Officially atheist but traditional
religion contains elements of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism |
| Colombia |
95% Roman Catholic |
| Comoros |
Sunni Muslim, 86%; Roman
Catholic, 14% |
| Congo |
50% Christian, 48% animist,
2% Muslim |
| Congo, Democratic Republic
of the |
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant
20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Islam 10%; syncretic and traditional, 10% |
| Costa Rica |
95% Roman Catholic |
| Côte d'Ivoire |
60% indigenous, 23% Islam,
17% Christian |
| Croatia |
Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox
11.1%, Slavic Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others 10.8% |
| Cuba |
at least 85% nominally Roman
Catholic before Castro assumed power |
| Cyprus |
Greek Orthodox, 78%; Sunni
Muslim, 18%; Maronite, Armenian, Apostolic, Latin and others, 4% |
| Czech Republic |
atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic
39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4% |
| Denmark |
Evangelical Lutheran 91%,
other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%, other 7% |
| Djibouti |
Muslim, 94%; Christian,
6% |
| Dominica |
Roman Catholic, 77%; Protestant,
15% |
| Dominican Republic |
90% Roman Catholic |
| Ecuador |
Roman Catholic, 95% |
| Egypt |
Islam, 94%; Christian (mostly
Coptic), 6% |
| El Salvador |
Roman Catholic |
| Equatorial Guinea |
Roman Catholic, Protestant,
traditional |
| Eritrea |
Islam and Eritrean Orthodox
Christianity |
| Estonia |
Lutheran, 78%; Orthodox,
19% |
| Ethiopia |
Ethiopian Orthodox, 35%–40%;
Islam, 40%–45%; animist, 15%–20%; other, 5% |
| Fiji |
Christian, 52%; Hindu, 38%;
Islam, 8%; other, 2% |
| Finland |
Evangelical Lutheran, 90%;
Greek Orthodox, 1.2%; none, 9%; other, 1% |
| France |
Roman Catholic, 81%; Protestant,
1.7%; Muslim, 6.9%; Jewish, 1.3% |
| Gabon |
Catholic 75%, Protestant
20%, Animist 4% |
| Gambia, The |
Islam, 90%; Christian, 9%;
traditional, 1% |
| Georgia |
Georgian Orthodox, 65%;
Russian Orthodox, 10%; Armenian Orthodox, 8%; Muslim, 11% |
| Germany |
Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic
34%, Muslim 1.7%, Unaffiliated or other 26.3% |
| Ghana |
indigenous beliefs, 38%;
Islam, 30%; Christian, 24% |
| Greece |
Greek Orthodox, 98%; Muslim,
1.3%; Other, 0.7% |
| Grenada |
Roman Catholic, 64%; Anglican,
21% |
| Guatemala |
Roman Catholic, Protestant,
Mayan |
| Guinea |
Islam, 85%; 7% indigenous,
8% Christian |
| Guinea-Bissau |
traditional, 65%; Islam,
30%; Christian, 5% |
| Guyana |
Hindu, 34%; Protestant,
18%; Islam, 9%; Roman Catholic, 18%; Anglican, 16% |
| Haiti |
Roman Catholic, 80%; Protestant,
16%; Vaudou, 95% |
| Honduras |
Roman Catholic, 94%, Protestant
minority |
| Hungary |
Roman Catholic, 67.5%; Protestant,
25%; atheist and others, 7.5% |
| Iceland |
Church of Iceland (Evangelical
Lutheran) 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1% |
| India |
Hindu, 82.6%; Islam, 11.3%;
Christian, 2.4%; Sikh, 2%; Buddhists, 0.71%; Jains, 0.48% |
| Indonesia |
Islam, 87%; Christian, 9%;
Hindu, 2%; other, 2% |
| Iran |
Shi'ite Muslim, 95%; Sunni
Muslim, 4% |
| Iraq |
Muslim 97% (Shi'ite 60%–65%,
Sunni 32%–37%), Christian or other 3% |
| Ireland |
Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican
3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% |
| Israel |
Judaism, 82%; Islam, 14%;
Christian, 2%; others, 2% |
| Israel (West Bank and Gaza) |
West Bank: Muslim 75%, Jewish
17%, Christian and other 8%; Gaza Strip: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 0.7%,
Jewish 0.6% |
| Italy |
Roman Catholic 98%, other
2% |
| Jamaica |
Protestant, 55.9%; Roman
Catholic, 5%; other, 39.1% |
| Japan |
Shintoist, 111.8 million;
Buddhist, 93.1 million; Christian, 1.4 million; other, 11.4 million |
| Jordan |
Islam, 92%; Christian, 6%;
Other, 2% |
| Kazakhstan |
Muslim, 47%; Russian Orthodox
44%, Protestant 2%, other 7% |
| Kenya |
Protestant, 40%; Roman Catholic,
36%; traditional, 6%; Islam, 16%, others, 2% |
| Kiribati |
Roman Catholic, 52.6%; Protestant,
40.9% |
| Korea, North |
Buddhism and Confucianism,
religious activities almost nonexistent |
| Korea, South |
Christian, 48.2%; Buddhist,
48.8%; Confucianist, 0.8%; Chondogyo (religion of the Heavenly Way), 0.2%;
Other, 2% |
| Kuwait |
Islam 85% (Shi'ite 30%,
Sunni 45%, other 10%); Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15% |
| Kyrgyzstan |
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox
20%, other 5% |
| Laos |
Buddhist, 85%; animist and
other, 15% |
| Latvia |
Lutheran, Catholic, and
Baptist |
| Lebanon |
Islam, 60%; Christian, 40%
(17 recognized sects); Judaism negl. (1 sect) |
| Lesotho |
Christian, 80%; indigenous
beliefs; Muslim; and Bahai |
| Liberia |
traditional, 70%; Christian,
10%; Islam, 20% |
| Libya |
Islam |
| Liechtenstein |
Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant
6.9%, unknown 5.6%, other 7.5% |
| Lithuania |
Catholic, 85%; others include
Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist,
Islam, Judaism |
| Luxembourg |
Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant
and Jewish 3% |
| Macedonia |
Eastern Orthodox, 67%; Muslim,
30% |
| Madagascar |
traditional, 52%; Christian,
41%; Islam, 7% |
| Malawi |
Christian, 75%; Islam, 20% |
| Malaysia |
Malays (all Muslims), Chinese
(predominantly Buddhists), Indians (predominantly Hindus) |
| Maldives |
Islam (Sunni Muslim) |
| Mali |
Islam, 90%; traditional,
9%; Christian, 1% |
| Malta |
Roman Catholic, 98% |
| Marshall Islands |
predominantly Christian,
mostly Protestant |
| Mauritania |
Islam |
| Mauritius |
Hindu, 52%, Christian, 28.3%;
Islam, 16.6%; other, 3.1% |
| Mexico |
nominally Roman Catholic,
97%; Protestant, 3% |
| Moldova |
Eastern Orthodox 98.5%,
Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) |
| Monaco |
Roman Catholic, 95% |
| Mongolia |
predominantly Tibetan Buddhist;
Islam about 4% |
| Morocco |
Islam, 98.7%, Christian,
1.1%; Jewish, 0.2% |
| Mozambique |
traditional, 60%; Christian,
30%; Islam, 10% |
| Myanmar |
Buddhist 89.5%, Christian
4.9%, Muslim 3.8%, Hindu 0.05%, Animist 1.3% |
| Namibia |
Predominantly Christian |
| Nauru |
Protestant, 58%; Roman Catholic,
24%; Confucian and Taoist, 8% |
| Nepal |
Hindu, 90%; Buddhist, 5%;
Islam, 3% |
| The Netherlands |
Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant
25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% |
| New Zealand |
Christian, 81%; none or
unspecified, 18%; Hindu, Confucian, and other, 1% |
| Nicaragua |
Roman Catholic, 95%; Protestant,
5% |
| Niger |
Islam, 80%; Animist and
Christian, 20% |
| Nigeria |
Islam, 50%; Christian, 40%;
indigenous, 10% |
| Norway |
Evangelical Lutheran 87.8%
(state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown
5.2% |
| Oman |
Islam, 95% |
| Pakistan |
Islam, 97%; Hindu, Christian,
Buddhist, Parsi |
| Palau |
Christian. About one-third
of the islanders observe Modekngei religion, indigenous to Palau |
| Panama |
Roman Catholic, over 93%;
Protestant, 6% |
| Papua New Guinea |
over half are Christian,
remainder indigenous |
| Paraguay |
Roman Catholic, 90% |
| Peru |
Roman Catholic |
| The Philippines |
Roman Catholic, 84%; Protestant,
10%; Islam, 5%; Buddhist and other, 3% |
| Poland |
Roman Catholic, 95% (about
75% practicing); Russian Orthodox, Protestant, and other, 5% |
| Portugal |
Roman Catholic 97%, 1% Protestant,
2% other |
| Qatar |
Islam, 95% |
| Romania |
Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman
Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18% |
| Russia |
Russian Orthodox, Muslim,
others |
| Rwanda |
Roman Catholic, 56%; Protestant,
18%; Islam, 1%; Animist, 25% |
| St. Lucia |
Roman Catholic, 90%; Protestant,
7%; Anglican, 3% |
| St. Vincent and The Grenadines |
Anglican, 47%; Methodist,
28%; Roman Catholic, 13% |
| Samoa |
Christian, 99.7% |
| San Marino |
Roman Catholic |
| São Tomé and
Príncipe |
Roman Catholic, Evangelical
Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist |
| Saudi Arabia |
Islam, 100% |
| Senegal |
Islam, 92%; indigenous,
6%; Christian, 2% |
| Seychelles |
Roman Catholic, 90%; Anglican,
8% |
| Sierra Leone |
Islam, 40%, Christian, 35%;
Indigenous, 20% |
| Singapore |
Islam, Christian, Buddhist,
Hindu, Taoist |
| Slovakia |
Roman Catholic, 60.3%; atheist,
9.7%; Protestant, 8.4%; Orthodox, 4.1%; other, 17.5% |
| Slovenia |
Roman Catholic, 70.8% (including
2% Uniate); Lutheran, 1%; Muslim, 1%; other, 27.2% |
| Solomon Islands |
Anglican; Roman Catholic;
South Seas Evangelical; Seventh-Day Adventist, United (Methodist) Church,
other Protestant |
| Somalia |
Islam (Sunni) |
| South Africa |
Christian; Hindu; Islam |
| Spain |
Roman Catholic, 99% |
| Sri Lanka |
Buddhist, 69%; Hindu, 15%;
Islam, 8%; Christian, 8% |
| Sudan |
Islam (Sunni), 70%; indigenous,
20%; Christian, 5% |
| Suriname |
Protestant, 25.2%; Roman
Catholic, 22.8%; Hindu, 27.4%; Islam, 19.6%; indigenous, about 5% |
| Swaziland |
Christian, 60%; indigenous,
40% |
| Sweden |
Evangelical Lutheran, 94%;
Roman Catholic, 1.5%; Pentecostal, 1%; other, 3.5% |
| Switzerland |
Roman Catholic, 49%; Protestant,
40%; other, 5%; no religion, 8.3% |
| Syria |
Islam, 90%; Christian, 10% |
| Taiwan |
Buddhist, 4.86 million;
Taoist, 3.3 million; Protestant, 422,000; Catholic, 304,000 |
| Tajikistan |
Sunni Muslim, 80% |
| Tanzania |
Christian, 40%; Muslim,
33% |
| Thailand |
Buddhist, 94.4%; Islam,
4%; Hindu, 1.1%; Christian, 0.5% |
| Togo |
Indigenous beliefs, 70%;
Christian, 20%; Islam, 10% |
| Tonga |
Christian; Free Wesleyan
Church claims over 30,000 adherents |
| Trinidad and Tobago |
Roman Catholic, 33%; Hindu,
25%; Anglican, 15%; other Christian, 14%; Muslim, 6% |
| Tunisia |
Islam (Sunni), 98%; Christian,
1%; Jewish, less than 1% |
| Turkey |
Islam (mostly Sunni), 98% |
| Turkmenistan |
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox
9%, unknown 2% |
| Tuvalu |
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist),
97% |
| Uganda |
Christian, 66%; Islam, 16% |
| Ukraine |
Orthodox, 76%; Ukrainian
Catholic (Uniate), 13.5%; Jewish, 2.3%; Baptist, Mennonite, Protestant,
and Muslim, 8.2% |
| United Arab Emirates |
Islam (Sunni 80%, Shi'ite
16%), others 4% |
| United Kingdom |
Church of England (established
church); Church of Wales (disestablished); Church of Scotland (established
church—Presbyterian); Church of Ireland (disestablished); Roman Catholic;
Methodist; Congregational; Baptist; Jewish |
| United States |
Protestant, 61%; Roman Catholic,
25%; Jewish, 2%; other, 5%; none, 7% |
| Uruguay |
Roman Catholic, 66%; Protestant,
2%; Jewish, 2% |
| Uzbekistan |
Muslim (mostly Sunnis),
88%; Eastern Orthodox, 9%; other, 3% |
| Vanuatu |
Presbyterian, 36.7%; Roman
Catholic, 15%; Anglican, 15%; other Christian, 10%; indigenous beliefs,
7.6%; other, 15.7% |
| Vatican City (Holy See) |
Roman Catholic. |
| Venezuela |
Roman Catholic, 96%; Protestant,
2% |
| Vietnam |
Buddhist, Roman Catholic,
Islam, Taoist, Confucian, Animist |
| Western Sahara |
Muslim |
| Yemen |
Islam (Sunni and Shi'ite) |
| Yugoslavia |
Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%,
Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11% |
| Zambia |
Christian, 50–75%; Islam
and Hindu, 24–49%; remainder indigenous beliefs |
| Zimbabwe |
Christian, 25%; Animist,
24%; Syncretic, 50% |
Source: World
Religions
UN General Assembly voting record on anti-Israel
resolutions
The UN and Israel 53rd Session
of the United Nations General Assembly 1998 - 99 by Dr. Joseph Lerner.
The UN Security Council consists of five permanent members and 10 members
appointed by the General Assembly to two-year terms. During the 1998-99
session there were 21 Genedral Assembly resolutions related to Israel and
the Middle East. All were anti-Israel. The following table provides the
voting record of the 5 permanent members as well the voting of some other
countries:
All the resolutions were negative to Israel.
I} Permanent Security
Council Members |
Vote Yes |
Vote No |
Absent |
| China |
20 |
0 |
1 |
| Russian Federation |
18 |
0 |
3 |
| France |
17 |
0 |
4 |
| United Kingdom |
17 |
0 |
4 |
| U.S.A. |
1 |
17 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
| II) Some Other Countries |
|
|
|
| Mexico |
21 |
0 |
0 |
| Italy |
17 |
0 |
4 |
| Japan |
17 |
0 |
4 |
| Portuagal |
17 |
0 |
4 |
| Spain |
17 |
0 |
4 |
| Norway |
16 |
0 |
5 |
| Germany |
15 |
0 |
6 |
| : |
|
|
|
| Micronesia |
1 |
1 |
12 |
Except for the U.S. and Israel, only one
other country voted no; a single vote `No' by Micronesia. Micronesia voted
once `No' , once `Yes' , seven abstentions and was absent for 12 of the
votes.
Data source: "One-Sided; The Continuing
Campaign Against Israel in the United Nations,a report on resolutions regarding
Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict before the 53rd session of the United
Nations General Assembly 1998-99", American Jewish Committee.
Source: Independent
Media Review and Analysis (IMRA)
The United Nation's Record vis-a-vis Israel
Prior to the Madrid Conference, of '91, the
office of Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir commissioned Shai Ben-Tekoa to
do a statistical analysis of U.N. voting vis a vis Israel. The following
is a summary of Mr. Ben-Tekoa's research.
Summary
Security Council:
-
175 Total Resolutions
-
74 Neutral
-
4 Against the perceived interests of an Arab
state or body
-
97 Against Israel
General Assembly:
-
Cumulative Number of Votes cast with/for Israel:
7,938.
-
Cumulative Number of Votes cast against Israel:
55,642.
Detail
SECURITY COUNCIL 1946-89
Frequency:
Since the Council first convened in 1946,
at least one Arab state sat on it in 39 of the body's first 43 years. Israel
never sat on the Council. From December 1947, when the 'Palestine Question'
first appeared on its agenda, to 1989, the Council held 2,682 meetings
of which 747 (26%) were devoted to the Arab-Israeli conflict. During
this period, the Council passed 605 resolutions of which 175 (29%) concerned
this conflict.
Balance or Tilt:
Of these 175, 74 (42%) may be labeled neutral
or balanced. Of the remaining 101, 4 (4%) criticized or opposed the actions,
or judged against, the perceived interests of an Arab state or body.Ninety-seven
resolutions (96%) were critical, or opposed the actions, or judged against
the perceived interests of Israel. The last time a resolution passed the
Security Council whose major thrust criticized Arab actions was on September
1, 1949.
Requests:
Between 1947 and 1989, the Council 'called
upon,' 'demanded,' 'requested' etc. Israel to 'comply,' 'desist,' 'refrain'
etc. 123 times. An Arab state, states or body was 'called upon' 'ordered'
'requested' 65 times, or 47% less.
Specificity:
In these requests, Israel was explicitly named
105 times. References to Arab states were usually implicit, as in '...the
parties concerned'. An Arab state was identified by name 12 times.
Expressions:
The Council expressed its 'concern,' 'grave
concern,' 'regret,' 'deep regrets,' 'shock' etc. about Israeli actions
31 times. Regarding Arab actions, the Council never expressed negative
sentiments.
Condemnations:
The Council 'condemned, 'censured,' 'deplored,'
'strongly deplored' etc. Israel 49 times. The Council never
'condemned,' 'censured,' 'deplored' etc. the Arabs.
Warnings:
The Council 'warned,' 'solemnly warned' etc.
Israel 7 times. The Council never warned the Arabs.
The above data concern the entire post-war
period until 1989, but by isolating the period June 1967-1989, the
numbers rise into even starker relief.
SECURITY COUNCIL 1967-1989
Frequency:
The Council held 1,517 meetings. Of these
459 (30%) were devoted to the Arab-Israeli conflict.402 resolutions were
passed. Of these, 131 (33%) concerned the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Balance or Tilt of U.N. resolutions:
Neutral Of these 131, 43 (33%) were neutral.
Of the remaining 88, all (100%) criticized or opposed the actions, or judged
against the interests of Israel. 0 resolutions criticized or opposed the
actions, or judged against the perceived interests of an Arab state or
body, or the PLO (founded by the Arab League in 1964).
Requests:
The Council 'called upon,' 'demanded,' 'ordered'
etc. Israel to 'comply,' 'desist,' 'refrain' 83 times. The Council 'called
upon,' 'requested' etc. an Arab state 29 times, 65% less. The Council never
'demanded,' 'ordered' etc. the PLO to do or stop doing anything.
Expressions:
The Council expressed its 'concern,' 'grave
concern,' 'deep regrets.' 'shock' etc. regarding Israel's actions 28 times.
The Council never expressed negative sentiments regarding either any Arab
state or the PLO.
Condemnations:
The Council 'condemned,' 'censured,' 'deplored'
Israel 43 times. No Arab state or group was ever condemned.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1947-1989
The labor of the Assembly, the larger if less
potent U.N. chamber, on the other hand, makes the above numbers testimony
to the power and moderating influence of the United States in the Security
Council, whose numbers now, by contrast, will seem in retrospect only mildly
anti-Israel.
Number of Resolutions or Resolution Parts
Voted On : 690
Balance or Tilt:
Of these, 205 (30%) were neutral. Of these,
64 (9%) were adopted without a vote, without objection or by consensus.
18 (3%) were adopted unanimously. Thus the adjusted number of balanced
resolutions: 123 (18%)
Resolutions against Israel's desires: 429
(62%)
Resolutions against Arab desires: 56 (8%).
Of the 56 votes not to the Arabs' liking,
49 concerned the establishment or financing
of peace-keeping forces. Of the remaining 7, one concerned inviting the
Jewish Agency for Palestine to address the General Assembly (May
1947); 1 concerned the Partition Plan (November 1947); 1 concerned establishing
a trusteeship for Jerusalem; 3 concerned refugees (1948); 1 protested admitting
Israel as a member to the UN. Discounting the 49 votes concerning peace-keeping
forces, the last anti-Arab vote of the General Assembly was in May 1949.
Requests:
The Arabs were 'called upon' to 'comply,'
'desist,' 'refrain' etc. 4 times. Israel was 'demanded,' 'ordered'
etc. to do General Assembly bidding 305 times.
Expressions:
The Assembly expressed its 'concern,'
'grave concern,' 'anxiety' etc. about Israeli policies or actions 179 times.
The General Assembly expressed itself in similar terms about Arab policies
or actions 0 times.
Condemnations:
Israel was 'condemned,' 'vigorously condemned,'
'strongly condemned,' 'deplored,' 'strongly deplored', 'censured,' 'denounced'
by the General Assembly 321 times. The Arabs were condemned 0 times.
Cumulative Number of Votes cast with/for Israel:
7,938.
Cumulative Number of Votes cast against Israel:
55,642.
Source: Israel
National News
UN General Assembly Voting Details
Resolution Against Israel, 20 October 2000
The Assembly adopted the resolution on illegal
Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied
Palestinian territory (document A/ES-10/L.6) by a recorded vote of 92 in
favour to 6 against, with 46 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina,
Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso,
Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Finland, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic,
Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia,
Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic
of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia,
Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Federated States of Micronesia,
Israel, Marshall Islands,
Nauru, Tuvalu, United States.
Abstain: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda,
Australia, Barbados, Benin, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji,
Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, The former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, United Kingdom.
Absent: Afghanistan, Angola, Bahamas, Belarus,
Bhutan, Cambodia, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Honduras, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi,
Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.
Source: Independent
Media Review and Analysis (IMRA)
Israel's Reaction to the most recent U.N.
General Assembly Resolution Against Israel, 20 October 2000
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Jerusalem, 21 October 2000
Israel adamantly rejects the decision
taken by the Special Emergency Session of the United Nations on October
20. This resolution is totally one-sided and completely ignores numerous
incidents such as the lynch in Ramallah and the desecration of Joseph's
Tomb and the ancient synagogue in Jericho, as well as the ongoing acts
of violence on the part of the Palestinians. This decision also ignores
the fact that the Palestinian Authority planned and initiated these acts
and is responsible for not implementing the commitments it took on at the
Sharm el-Sheikh Summit. The Palestinians, including the police and Tanzim
organization working directly with the PA, are using live ammunition on
all fronts against Israeli citizens. Furthermore, they send women and children
to confront Israelis.
The decision also chose to ignore the Israeli
government's willingness, as displayed during the Camp David Summit, to
take dramatic and painful decisions in order to advance the peace process,
as opposed to the unwillingness of Arafat and the Palestinian leadership
to make the necessary decisions.
The decision taken today by less than half
of the U.N. membership does not contribute to the efforts to calm the situation
and to cease the violence by the Palestinians, in accordance with the Sharm
el-Sheikh Summit summary statement.
The government of Israel will do all it
can to stabilize the situation, and expects the Palestinian leadership
to do likewise.
Source: Independent
Media Review and Analysis (IMRA)
This page was produced by Joseph
E. Katz
Middle Eastern Political and Religious
History Analyst
Brooklyn, New York
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