With Robert Mueller's anticipated hearings on the Hill now over, we can browse through some of the other news around the world we missed. Boris Johnson delivered his first speech as prime minister, Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló resigned, and, apparently, the United Nations took (another) biased vote on Israel.
By a vote of 40-2, with 9 abstentions, the UN Economic and Social Council concluded that Israel was the “major obstacle” for Palestinian women “with regard to their advancement, self-reliance, and integration in the development of their society.” The only "no" votes were the U.S. and Canada.
The Jewish state was harshly and repeatedly condemned in a resolution, adopted 40 to 2 with 9 abstentions and 3 absent (see breakdown below), for allegedly being the “major obstacle” for Palestinian women “with regard to their advancement, self-reliance, and integration in the development of their society.”
Out of 20 items on the UN Economic and Social Council’s 2018-2019 agenda, only one — Item No. 16 against Israel — focuses on condemning a specific country. All the other focus areas concern global topics such as disaster relief assistance and the use of science and technology for development. (UN Watch)
Former U.S. ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley was among the outraged.
It amazes me how the U.N. condones votes like these. It is a total mockery of human rights to allow Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Yemen to name Israel as the world’s only violator of women’s rights. #Embarrassing https://t.co/VOr20Ma9Po
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) July 25, 2019
For the UN to allow the above countries a seat at the table and a voice in this debate is shocking. For them to accuse Israel of violating women's rights is downright deplorable.
“The UN reached new heights of absurdity by singling out Israel alone on women’s rights, yet saying nothing on Iran holding women’s rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh behind bars, Saudi Arabia jailing and torturing women’s rights activists, and subjugating women under harsh male guardianship laws, or on Yemen denying women hospital treatment without the permission of a male relative,” Executive Director of UN Watch Hillel Neuer noted.
Anyone familiar with the UN's voting record, as Neuer is, is hardly surprised. The international body has for years singled out the Jewish state for its supposed human rights violations, while ignoring the egregious behavior of other nations.
In her tenure as U.S. ambassador, Haley did her part to stick up for our friend in the Middle East. It did not go unnoticed by Israeli officials.