A push is currently being made to add the Israeli military to the blacklist of the UN Council for Children and Armed Conflict.The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, of Armenia, has recommended that the Israeli army be added to the list because of some 500 Palestinian children killed and 3,300 wounded during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge.
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According to the PNN, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon seems likely to resist the call, Ynet reported, particularly in light of heavy opposition from Israel, and threats that such a move could fully terminate relations between Israel and the UN.
However, Palestinian pressure abounds not only from the Palestinian Authority, but also its supporters and human rights groups. According to Yediot, UN Secretariat officials also back the Palestinians and have urged Ban not to give in to Israel’s threats.
One ally Israel likely can count on is the United States. Discussing the issue with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night, US Senator Lindsey Graham warned that continued ‘mistreatment’ of the apartheid-based Israeli state would result in a ‘violent push-back’ against the UN, Arts Sheva said.
Graham threatened to cut all American funding to the United Nations, should it continue to function in a manner that ‘marginalizes’ Israel.
Israel’s response, meanwhile, was deservedly angry, with Foreign Ministry officials condemning the UN’s bias against the Jewish state.
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