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Lessons of the UNESCO Vote

(Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies-Bar-Ilan University) Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror - The recent UNESCO resolution denying the Jewish link to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall in Jerusalem clarifies certain realities - that the international community readily capitulates to Palestinian whims because of its own cowardice. The Arab-Muslim bloc was prominent in voting in favor of the resolution, unfortunately proving, yet again, the "no partner" assertion by Israelis who are wary of negotiations with the Palestinians. After all, if this is what the Palestinians and Arabs believe, what point is there in talking? Of the nations that voted in favor of the resolution, China's and Russia's voting patterns stand out. China still automatically sides with the Arabs in the international arena. While conversing recently with Chinese experts on the Middle East, I asked them to explain the gap between Beijing's desire for improved relations with Israel and the realpolitik it continues to pursue. My interlocutors explained that China cannot ignore the power the Muslim bloc wields at the UN. For Russia, too, the Muslim bloc is larger than the bloc of countries that back Israel, so that is the bloc that receives consistent support. Those who cultivate the pipe dream of substituting Israel's long-term bond with the U.S. for an alliance with China and Russia should take a long, hard look at UNESCO's resolutions. The policies of Moscow and Beijing lack the ethical basis that is so prevalent in U.S. policy. The writer is a former Israeli national security advisor and former Director of the Research Division of IDF Military Intelligence.
2016-11-04 00:00:00
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