Israel has suffered another huge setback at the United Nations. Unesco, the cultural agency of the UN, passed a resolution this week that describes Jerusalem as ‘occupied’ and declares Israel’s sovereignty over the city ‘null and void’, further asserting the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls for the three monotheistic religions”, while accusing Israel of taking actions that have “altered, or purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City”. The resolution was backed by 22 countries, while the US, Germany, Italy and seven other board members voted against it. Qatar was one of the countries which submitted the resolution, along with Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman and Sudan.
As expected, the resolution provoked a furious reaction in Israel. Some politicians are calling for the UN to be expelled from Jerusalem. “Fifty years of our sovereignty in the city, there is no need for the presence of UN observers,” Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev of the right-wing Likud party said. Tel Aviv also announced its decision to cut UN funding by $1m to protest the resolution. Netanyahu had previously ordered $6m to be cut from the funds to the UN after the passing of Security Council Resolution 2334 against settlements in the West Bank.
But such angry and emotional reactions will not help dilute the damage these UN actions cause. Israel is an illegal occupying power, and however hard it tries to legitimize its actions, they will not succeed because the truth is not on its side. Arabs and supporters of Palestine have welcomed the result of the vote. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said that the world has chosen to stand on the side of what is right in the face of (Israel’s) injustice, occupation and its illegitimate policies.
The Unesco resolution will not change the situation on the ground and Israel has defiantly vowed to continue its activities in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, it’s a victory for Palestinians who need to use every opportunity to expose Israel. Mustafa Barghouti, the leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, summed it up when he said: “We know it won’t change the reality on the ground immediately, but this is certainly one step forward.”
Palestine and its allies at the Unesco need to make use of more opportunities in future to expose and punish Israel. Palestine was recognised as a full member of Unesco in 2011 despite intense opposition from Israel and the US, and the membership has become a boon.
