UN Chief Antonio Guterres speaking about Gaza last week (Video Snippet)

Israel Recalls Erdan Over Guterres' Bias, UN's Handling Of Hamas Crimes

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The Judean Staff
International

The escalating tensions between Israel and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have recently intensified, marking a significant moment of discord as Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, took the decisive step to recall the nation's UN envoy, Gilad Erdan, for strategic consultations back in Jerusalem. This action mirrors a similar measure taken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016 concerning UNESCO, highlighting the depth of Israel's current discontent with the UN's stance.

At the heart of Israel's grievances is a perceived bias from Secretary-General Guterres, with Israeli officials expressing concern over what they view as systemic hostility emanating from the highest levels of the United Nations. This sentiment is exacerbated by the frequent condemnations and anti-Israel resolutions that seem to punctuate the daily proceedings within the organization.

A particular point of contention has been the interim report by UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. The report, which addressed the egregious sexual crimes committed by Hamas during the events of October 7, also made mention of "problematic behavior patterns" by Israeli security services, as characterized by the Palestinian Authority. Israeli officials argue that this inclusion serves to unjustly equate Israeli actions with the atrocities committed by Hamas, thereby diluting the report's impact and obscuring the responsibility of Hamas for these grave crimes.

Foreign Minister Katz's decision to recall Ambassador Erdan is a protest against what he perceives as Guterres's attempts to undermine the report's findings. Katz accuses Guterres of attempting to absolve Hamas of its culpability by not convening the Security Council to discuss the report or to officially designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. Katz's criticisms extend further, accusing the Secretary-General of diminishing the UN's credibility by neglecting the severe crimes against humanity targeting Jews and Israelis, and by continually undermining Israel's right to defend itself.

Despite the severity of the diplomatic rift, Israel's options are constrained, notably by the lack of overt support from the United States for any robust retaliatory measures. However, there is an expectation within Israeli circles that a resolution may eventually emerge, potentially culminating in a special UN session to address Hamas's sexual crimes, where the findings of the Patten report would be thoroughly examined.

Nevertheless, the patience for Israel within the Biden administration is reportedly waning, which could influence the United States' readiness to employ its veto power in defense of Israel against UN resolutions. This scenario underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and the challenges Israel faces in navigating the currents of global opinion and politics within the United Nations.

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