UNESCO

The United Nations

The June 24th New York Sun reports that "Bowing to pressure from Palestinian Arab activists in America, the United Nations Children Fund is cutting ties with an Israeli billionaire donor, Lev Leviev, in response to allegations that one of his companies is financing the constructions of settlements in the West Bank." UNICEF acceded fully to the request.

That the Palestinians and their supporters have a legitimate complaint concerning West Bank settlements is not to be gainsaid and they have a right, even a duty, to do everything they can to have new ones stopped and old ones removed. But, how can UNICEF possibly be a suitable vehicle for this crusade. UNICEF, in statement on its website says it is an organization that is the "driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. We have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. That makes us unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young." One of the principal functions of UNICEF is to provide food to hungry children.

That reducing the financial base of UNICEF will punish Israel for the settlements is obvious nonsense. Perhaps the whole point of the decision of UNICEF is less the issue of the settlements and more the aim of delegitimizing Israel. If dying children can be useful pawns in the game - why not?

In the following day’s mail was a solicitation from UNESCO. It contained the sentence: “We invite you to join with UNESCO to do whatever it takes to save children’s lives”. [Unless, of course, you are Israeli.]