UN Special Rapporteur Claims Israel Has No Right to Self-Defense Against Palestinian Attacks

Anti-Israel forces are at it again at the U.N. Francesca Albanese, U.N. Special Rapporteur for “oPt” (shorthand for “occupied Palestinian territory”), recently tweeted that Israel cannot claim the right to defend itself against Palestinian attacks because Israel purportedly “oppresses” the Palestinians and “colonizes” their land.

What rubbish!

When democratic societies like Israel are under attack based on false accusations, we who believe in the rule of law and truth must stand and be counted. When Israel, the only democratic nation in the Middle East and the only nation in that region that follows the rule of law vis-à-vis its enemies, is libeled from whatever source, we who value truth and the rule of law cannot remain silent. We must act to set the record straight. And that is what we did in this matter.

We sent a letter to the secretary-general of the United Nations highlighting the libelous statements made in the Special Rapporteur’s tweet and calling on the secretary-general to replace Albanese with an impartial Rapporteur.

In our letter, we pointed out (1) there is no “occupied Palestinian territory” because there is no Palestinian state and Israel has lawful claims to the land that the Palestinians say is theirs; (2) until there is a Palestinian state that exercises sovereignty over territory, there can be no occupation as understood in the Geneva and Hague Conventions; (3) the inconveniences on, and the military measures taken against, the population in the so-called “West Bank” and Gaza Strip (the “oppression” the Special Rapporteur referred to) are due to the ongoing hostilities perpetrated against Israel by Palestinian terrorist groups, and Israel’s actions are fully lawful under the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), which currently governs the situation between Israel and the Palestinians; and (4) the international community determined over 100 years ago that the Jewish people’s return to their ancient homeland was a legitimate act of self-determination to reconstitute the Jewish national home and not colonization.

We also reminded the secretary-general that all U.N. Member States, including Israel, have the inherent right to self-defense, despite the Special Rapporteur’s statement to the contrary.

It should also be noted that although each of us may have our own opinions, we may not have our own facts. “Facts are stubborn things” when one seeks to discern the truth.

For example, Israel has tried on numerous occasions to make peace with the Palestinians and to engage in bilateral negotiations, which would result in the creation of a “Palestinian State,” only to be rebuffed at every turn. Israeli diplomat Abba Eban was sadly correct when he observed that the Palestinians “never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” They have yet to learn that, in good faith negotiations, each side must make concessions to reach a deal; one side does not get 100% of what it demands; and half a loaf is better than no loaf at all. Yet, until they learn that lesson, we can expect more and more attempts to attack Israel indirectly, as exemplified by the recent Special Rapporteur’s tweet. Further, by siding openly with the Palestinians against Israel, she encourages further Palestinian stubbornness as well as additional Palestinian acts of violence. For these reasons, she has become a partisan in the conflict and must go.

The ACLJ is committed to protecting the State of Israel, our loyal ally and the only genuine democratic state in the Middle East. Please join us in standing up to the anti-Israel bullies who seek to delegitimize and dismantle the world’s only Jewish state.