CUFI is calling on Number 10 to explain why the UK ambassador to the UN singled out Israel in an ‘appalling’ speech that endorsed the notorious UNSC 2334 resolution of 2016.

The speech given to the UN Security Council on Monday has gone largely under the radar, but CUFI UK’s Executive Director, Des Starritt, says CUFI is demanding that Downing Street gives answers as to why the speech was allowed.

“The speech by Britain’s representative to the UN appears to be at odds with the very encouraging messages conveyed by Rishi Sunak’s government in recent weeks in support of Israel,” says Starritt. “Firstly, the UK ‘re-affirming’ its support for UNSC Resolution 2334 after six years raises serious questions whether Britain’s statement at the UN is in conflict with Downing Street, or whether the speech received Number 10 approval.”

UN Resolution 2334 caused controversy in 2016 for its anti-Israel bias, leading then Prime Minister Theresa May to distance herself from Britain’s vote in favour.

“Even as recently as 12th December, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the UK would stand against bias at the UN.”

The speech by the UK’s ambassador to the UN on 19 December began with the following biased points:

Six years ago, the Security Council agreed Resolution 2334. The UK re-affirms its commitment to the core tenets of that text:

First, the status quo is not sustainable, and urgent action is required to maintain the viability of the Two-State Solution;

Second, all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, provocation and destruction, must be prevented; and

Third, Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem.

“The UK’s appalling statement this week lacks context. It accuses Israel – and only Israel – by name, and makes no mention of Palestinian terror groups or the Palestinian Authority. The phrase ‘all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, provocation and destruction, must be prevented’ could be referring to Palestinian terrorism, but the ambiguity – deliberate or accidental – is a dangerous narrative for the UK to be stating,” he continued. “It is shameful that the UK government appears to be blaming Israel for the conflict and gives oxygen to the propaganda of Israel’s enemies.”

“Ironically, it is the Palestinian leadership that has repeatedly refused all offers of Palestinian statehood, not Israel,” Starritt explains, “because they are adamantly opposed to the existence of a Jewish state.”

“This singling out of Israel has got to stop. It’s time that Britain’s outdated and failed foreign policy is brought up to date and stands up for Israel and against Palestinian terror.”

“The full statement by the UK ambassador to the UN gets worse. It only mentions allegations against Israel, but avoids any mention of the string of recent terrorist acts that innocent Israelis have experienced, including the double bombing near bus stops in Jerusalem. It omits any reference to the continued threat of Palestinian terrorist groups,” Starritt added. 

The statement is also quick to point out, without context, allegations of Israel’s actions towards the construction of a school building in Hebron, but doesn’t mention the terror tunnel recently discovered under a fully-active UN-funded school in Gaza.

“These double standards have got to stop,” says Starritt. “We’re fortunate to have a government that is pro-Israel, but there needs to be a consistency between what Number 10 says in support of Israel, the Foreign Office’s policy towards Israel and our representation to the UN.”

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Email
Print
More