A PAINFUL ISRAELI U.N. VOTE February 28, 2025
Last Monday, the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemned Russia 93–18. Sixty-five nations abstained. Conscience forces me to protest Israel’s vote against.
According to news.un.org, the resolution “called for a commitment to ‘the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders’ and the need to ensure accountability for crimes committed under international law, through “fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at national and international level”.
A U.S.-sponsored resolution also was passed with three French amendments acknowledging a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.” The U.S. abstained.
In casting its “nay,” Israel sided with some of the world’s worst autocracies—Russia, Belorussia, Hungary and North Korea. China abstained.
Israel’s vote doubtless sought to please the would-be autocrat, Donald Trump, who blames Ukraine for starting the war and called its elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a dictator. As to the legitimacy of Vladimir Putin’s 25-year rule, Trump has no opinion.
I am appalled by Israel’s vote. Yes, I understand realpolitik. But decency and humanity must never take a back seat, even when a nation faces grievous challenges.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu wants American support. U.S. air-defense systems helped Israel stave off rocket/missile attacks from Iran. American military equipment adds to that Israel produces to enable Israel to defend itself and attack Hamas and Hezbollah. The Biden administration provided over $100 billion of assistance.
But Trump is not motivated by a moral imperative. He sees Israel’s existential struggle as an opportunity to leverage backing for his own agenda, to make “deals.”
Israel wants more U.S. munitions and other assistance? Let Bibi grovel, praise Trump and retreat from its previous support of Ukraine.
If Bibi said no, would the United States abandon Israel? The vast majority of Trump’s supporters believe in Israel’s right to exist and so protect itself. So do I, but for reasons having nothing to do with many conservative Christians’ belief that all Jews must be gathered to Israel to spur the Second Coming.
At the very least, Bibi could have ordered Israel’s UN representative, Danny Danon, to abstain. Yet even that would have been shameful. The Torah commands Israel to do hatov v’hayashar—the good and the right (Deut. 12:28). A nation that prides itself on ethical/moral responsibilities must, in difficult moments, find the courage to speak up.
An article in the March Atlantic, “Capitulation is Contagious,” by Adrienne LaFrance, discusses the early-January resignation of Washington Post political cartoonist Ann Telnaes. Telnaes had drawn a cartoon depicting media and tech giants, including the Post’s owner, and Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, presenting offerings of money to a giant statue representing Donald Trump. At the base of the steps leading up to the idol, Mickey Mouse, representing the Disney Company, prostrates himself. The Post refused to run the cartoon.
LaFrance writes, “Sycophancy, as we see, has momentum, but so too does courage. . . . There is much talk of the institutions that protect democracy, and how crucial they are to the American project. But those institutions work only because of the individuals who make them work.”
May Israel maintain its place among the world’s democracies, and Israelis and Diaspora Jews speak truth to those who would corrupt and topple them.
Chai Yisrael! Slava Ukraine!
Please pass on this post.
Order my novel, TAKING STOCK (Kirkus Reviews starred selection) in softcover or e-book from Amazon, barnesandnoble.com or iuniverse.com. Or from your favorite bookstore.
David, Thank you for clearly stating this difficult truth to power. I was also appalled when I read the Israeli vote at the UN.
You’re most welcome, Bill.
Sadly, I expected little better from the Trump administration, for whom truth is just another concept to be manipulated for whatever ends.
But Israel? The nation that was founded to be a light unto the nations? The nation that generations of my family have supported? This was a simple, no-cost vote. Simply acknowledge the obvious–that Russia invaded Ukraine. What could have been so difficult about that. Bibi had already approved Trump’s plan to make Gaza our 51st state. He had some space to vote the truth. The corruption of Israel, the loss of any shred of moral rectitude, is pretty close to complete. Is there something sadder than sad?
Which brings me to a partial answer to “what can I do?” The World Zionist Congress elections run from March 10 to May 4. The WZC is an international organization that represents Jews in Israel and in the diaspora. Among other things, it directs the allocation of more than a billion dollars annually to Israeli institutions and NGOs. Those funds can go to institutions that support Reform and Progressive Jewish values–religious pluralism, protection of minority rights, a fair and just peace for Israelis and Palestinians–or to organizations that seek to pursue the ultra-Orthodox agenda, which is pretty much the opposite.
If you’re part of the Sherith Israel community, you will be receiving communications over the next couple of weeks that explain in greater detail why this election is important. If you’re not part of CSI, but want to learn more, you can go to the URJ’s website about the elections–https://www.vote4reform.org–or contact me at da**********@ea*******.net.
David, I apologize for pushing an agenda here, but outrage has to be tied to action.
Re your agenda, David, it’s a good one. Alas, Gaza could never be our 51st state. That’s Canada. But what about Tahiti?
I don’t understand the Canada as 51st state thing. Canada has a dozen provinces, each with its own culture. I would think Canada comes in as the 51st to 62nd states. And would French become our second language?
Too much logic, David.
Netanyahu is Trumps puppet.
How could Israel not support Ukraine? Israel claims Gaza invaded Israel on Oct 7th. Should the vote now be that Israel invaded Gaza? Doesn’t Israel see itself as in the same situation as Ukraine?
The Maga right is scary crazy!!
It’s a sad story, Sandy.