The United Nations (UN) has been accused of engaging in a “blood libel” against Israel over its recent allegations of violations of international law in the West Bank. This is just the latest in a long history of allegations of bias against the Jewish state from the world body.
The UN Human Rights Council released a report in February 2019 which accused Israel of engaging in “extensive destruction and appropriation of land not justified by military necessity and contrary to international humanitarian law.” The report also declared that Palestinians living in the West Bank are denied their human rights due to Israeli settlements, restrictions on freedom of movement, and other such measures.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement stating that the accusations contained in the report amounted to a “blood libel” against Israel. He further declared that the accusations made in the report distorted the truth and that the UN was “once again single[ing] out Israel for criticism” over its policies in the West Bank.
This is not the first time that the UN has been accused of bias against Israel. For decades, the UN has been accused of singling out the Jewish state for criticism while ignoring violations committed by other countries. Additionally, in the past, UN entities such as the Human Rights Council and UNICEF have been accused of anti-Semitism and of being used as a platform to delegitimize and demonize Israel.
The allegations of bias and the accusations of a “blood libel” against Israel by the UN illustrate the deep divisions and tension between Israel and the international community. However, it is important to remember that criticisms of Israeli policies in the West Bank are legitimate and should not be dismissed based solely on accusations of anti-Semitism or bias against the Jewish state.
