The United Nations has decided to blacklist the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after heavy influence from anti-Israel non-governmental organizations (NGOs), according to a new report. The report, published by NGO Monitor, claims that the UN’s decision was heavily influenced by the NGOs.
NGO Monitor, a watchdog group that monitors anti-Israel NGOs, claims that the UN’s decision was heavily influenced by the NGOs. The report also suggests that the UN did not conduct its own independent research into the allegations against the IDF.
Overview
The United Nations (UN) is poised to add the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to its list of organizations that abuse children’s rights in armed conflicts. This list already includes groups like Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and Boko Haram.
The announcement from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres marks a significant shift in the international scrutiny of Israel’s military actions.
Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor, a watchdog group, highlights that this decision stems from intensive lobbying efforts by numerous Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Many of these NGOs have connections to Palestinian Authority terrorist factions and advocate for violence against Israeli civilians.
They have reportedly used the UN report as a tool to further their agendas, particularly the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Anne Herzberg, Legal Advisor at NGO Monitor, argues that these NGOs provide manipulated and unverified data, which the UN then relies upon.
The inclusion of the IDF on this list of abusers has sparked significant controversy. Herzberg describes the latest report as heavily biased and particularly problematic in light of recent conflicts.
She criticizes the report for underestimating the actions of Palestinian terror groups against Israeli children, while simultaneously accusing the IDF of similar offenses. One specific point of contention is the report’s claim that Israel intentionally closed the Erez crossing to harm children, without mentioning that Hamas destroyed the crossing during an invasion.
The comparison of the IDF to groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad is seen by many as another example of UN political actions targeting Israel.
Herzberg and others argue that this comparison diminishes the severity of Palestinian terrorist activities and unfairly deflects responsibility from the true perpetrators of violence.
NGO Monitor has also published detailed findings outlining how anti-Israel and terror-linked organizations exploit children to campaign against the IDF.
Their June 2023 report delves deeper into the methods these groups use to lobby for Israel’s inclusion on the UN blacklist.
The controversy surrounding these recent UN actions highlights ongoing conflicts and differing perspectives on how to address and portray violence in regions like Gaza and Israel.