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IPSNEWS Thu, 31 Jan 2008
The 15-member U.N. Security Council (UNSC) is set to lose its credibility once again as it prepares to impose a third set of sanctions on Iran while failing to pass any strictures on Israel for its continued heavy-handed repression of Palestinians in Gaza.
"Many ask whether the UNSC still has any credibility left," says Mouin Rabbani, contributing editor to the Washington-based Middle East Report.
But the more pertinent question, he pointed out, "is whether it should have any -- after its consistent failure to ensure either peace or security, and of turning a malignantly blind eye to so many threats to peace and security and the basic rights of many millions."
"Indeed, the UNSC's continued obsession with Iran's apparently non-existent nuclear weapons programme, and its dogged determination to do nothing of consequence to address Israel's very real occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip -- to the point of currently failing to issue even the lamest of statements on the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip -- speaks volumes," Rabbani said.
"And this is in a conflict the United Nations played a direct role in creating in 1947," he added.
After four days of intense closed-door negotiations last week, the UNSC failed to come up either with a resolution against Israel or a unanimous non-binding presidential statement.
With the United States demanding a stronger text critical of Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel, the UNSC lacked consensus for a collective statement condemning Israel's decision to choke Palestinians in Gaza and cutting off electricity and humanitarian supplies.
The decision-makers in the UNSC, which also has 10 rotating non-permanent members, are the five veto-wielding permanent members, namely the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia.
In a strong statement issued last week, John Dugard, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights, said that Israeli action violates the strict prohibition on collective punishment contained in the Fourth Geneva Convention governing conflicts.
"It also violates one of the basic principles of international humanitarian law that military action must distinguish between military targets and civilian targets," he said.
Dugard singled out the killing of some 40 Palestinians in Gaza and the targeting of a government office near a wedding party venue resulting in the loss of civilian lives.
"The closure of crossings into Gaza raises very serious questions about Israel's respect for international law and its commitment to the (Middle East) peace process," he added.
While it remains paralysed over Israel -- as often happens because of the protection afforded to the Jewish state by the United States, Britain and France -- the UNSC is readying for a third set of sanctions against Iran.
"For the Security Council to bow to U.S. pressure to impose additional sanctions on Iran despite its lack of an active nuclear weapons programme will seriously harm the U.N.'s credibility," said Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco.
For more than 26 years, he pointed out, Israel has been in violation of UNSC resolution 487 which calls upon Israel to "place its nuclear facilities under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguard."
Yet -- despite deciding to "remain seized of the matter" -- the Security Council has refused to even threaten sanctions, Zunes told IPS.
Similarly, he said, there have been no threats of sanctions against India and Pakistan for remaining in violation of resolution 1172 to end their nuclear weapons programmes for almost a decade.
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ALJAZEERA Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:47:06 PM
The United Nation's official website appears to have been hacked in a form of "cyber-protest" against Israeli and US policies in the Middle East.
A message appearing on the site early on Sunday said: "Hacked By kerem125 M0sted and Gsy That is CyberProtest Hey Ysrail and Usa dont kill children and other people Peace for ever No war."
Several web pages of the subsite for comments and news about Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, were affected and that section of the UN website was taken offline temporarily.
However, a placemarker graphic said the site was "unavailable due to scheduled maintenance".
The group of hackers, who have previously referred to themselves as "Turkish defacers", have been involved in thousands of website attacks, including a number of high-profile cases.
The US Air Force Reserve website was hit by what appears to be the same group about six months ago, displaying the message: "Hacked By_kerem125 Turkish Defacer and Muslım Solidear".
In July, the website for AAMI, one of Australia's largest insurance companies, was taken down after the messages "We are Turkish defacers" and "Hey Israel don't kill children" appeared instead of AAMI's website, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
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| Full List of UN articles |
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 Al Jazeera analyses Bush's checkpoint gaffe - 10 Jan 08
YOUTUBE
As George Bush, the US president, tours Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories Al Jazeera discusses the significance of his attempted joke regarding checkpoints in the West...
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NEWS SUMMARY
UN: 300,000 Mexican children work on farms
UNSC slams Eritrea over 'obstructions'
UN defends DR Congo investigation
500,000 pages infected in Web attack
Hezbollah slams UN for 'biased stance'
Australia becomes a whole lot bigger after UN ruling
Diplomats renew UN reform push
Demining work in Cypriot capital
Profile: The UN Security Council
Berlin pushes for permanent UNSC seat
Ahmadinejad urges UN amendment
Myanmar rules out UN proposal
UN rights chief to leave office
UN launches SWAT team of mediators
Burundi MPs in death-threat plea
UNEP to correct mistake in documents
Global forum on human trafficking
UN sets up new bases in DR Congo
UN chief to respond to students
Web game provides rice for hungry
Taiwan torch relay for UN entry
Rebel 'breaks' DR Congo ceasefire
Youngsters kick a ball for peace
Hurricane aid call for Nicaragua
UN warns of DRC refugee increase
Former UN chief Kurt Waldheim dies
Former UN head Kurt Waldheim dies
UN in Sri Lanka $10m food appeal
Disabled Congo singers to sue UN
UN lifts Liberia diamond-sale ban
Profile: IAEA
Duchy unveils green town project
Missing student 'safe and well'
Union anger over Imerys takeover
Tennis star named UN enovy
Boardroom battle for Torquay club
Parents of truants face £100 fine
Profile: Mitt Romney
Bath Uni may abandon Swindon site
Serbia rejects UN plan for Kosovo
Man severely beaten with bottle
UN police chief in Kosovo quits
Methodology behind Unicef report
Four fatal shark attacks in 2006
Goalscoring legends set in bronze
Victim's mother unable to forgive
Clough unveils binge-drink survey
Child study finds big divisions
Plan 'could see £300m investment'
Secret of an historic love token
Motorway resurfacing due to begin
NI Assembly election candidates
Police break up Kosovo protest
