The UN’s Dirty Little Secret

No one is really surprised at the outcome of the vote at the UN General Assembly today, confirming “observer state” status for the Palestinian Authority.  The official vote was 138 to 9, with 41 abstentions.  CBS News called the PA’s quest for statehood “an elusive dream until the Palestinians negotiate a peace deal with the Israelis.”  Don’t count on that happening any time soon.
 
US Ambassador Susan Rice, fresh off the Benghazi hot seat, called the vote an “unfortunate and counterproductive resolution.”  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ speech “defamatory and venomous . . . full of mendacious propaganda.”  Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, said, “For as long as President Abbas prefers symbolism over reality, as long as he prefers to travel to New York for UN resolutions rather that travel to Jerusalem for genuine dialogue, any hope of peace is out of reach.”

But something else went on today in the background while the spotlight was on Abbas.  It’s the kind of thing that exposes the UN for what it really is.

The Palestinian Authority, the UN Division for Palestinian Rights and other UN officials denied access to the General Assembly Hall to Jewish students in order to pack the hall with Palestinian supporters.  Despicable as that is, in and of itself, for the supposedly unbiased body of seekers of equality and peace in the world, the little conspiracy runs even deeper.

The 23 students, who are part of an education program sponsored by the Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni community, had already been given permission and passes to attend the session at the invitation of the UN-accredited Touro Institute on Human Right and the Holocaust.  Yesterday, after the passes had already been printed, Wolfgang Grieger, Director of the UN Division for Palestinian Rights wrote a letter to the UN Pass Office, requesting that access be denied to the Jewish group, falsely claiming that they were part of an NGO that was not authorized to attend.

The UN website specifically advertized the session as open to NGOs.

Director Geiger, not expecting the matter to go public, backpedalled like a unicyclist running from a bear, claiming that his request was because the group had been disruptive in the past, which was also not true – and was not even implied in his letter.

By the way, Geiger requested – and received – 100 passes which were given to Palestinian supporters.  Where did Geiger learn his politics?  Chicago?

Friends, this world is an unfriendly place, especially if you are a Jew.  I am not a Jew, but God has blessed me with a heart for His special, chosen people.  I pray for the nation of Israel, for the Jewish people, and the peace of Jerusalem daily because I am convinced that is what the Lord wants us to do. (Psalm 122:6)  Would you join me in praying for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem?  “Lord, may Israel not fear, for you are with her; may she be not dismayed, for you are her God.  Strengthen her and help her; uphold her with your righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah41:10)

Source material for this article is found at CBS News, Israel National News, and Breitbart.