Ambassador Haley Urges the UN to End its Anti-Israel Bias

After attending the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council’s monthly meeting on Middle East issues for the first time, newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley delivered strong remarks rebuking the Security Council for the shameful way in which it has operated “month after month, for decades.”

“I have to admit, it was a bit strange,” Haley said of the Security Council’s meeting agenda. At the press conference following the meeting, Ambassador Haley pointed directly to the Security Council’s anti-Israel bias, which is compounded by its failure to properly address issues central to its mission of maintaining international peace.

“Instead, the meeting focused on criticizing Israel, the one true democracy in the Middle East,” Haley said.

Provoked by the U.N.’s approach, she condemned the way in which the Security Council persistently blasted Israel during the meeting while ignoring pressing issues at hand.

“Incredibly, the UN Department of Political Affairs has an entire department devoted to Palestinian affairs,” Haley said. “Imagine that. There is not a division devoted to illegal missile launches from North Korea. There is no division devoted to the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, Iran.”

Ambassador Haley also took note of what was not discussed during the meeting.

“The Security Council is supposed to discuss how to maintain international peace and security. But at our meeting on the Middle East, the discussion was not about Hezbollah’s illegal build-up of rockets in Lebanon. It was not about the money and weapons Iran provides to terrorists. It was not about how we defeat ISIS. It was not about how we hold Bashar al-Assad accountable for the slaughter of hundreds and thousands of civilians,” Haley told the press. “No, instead, the meeting focused on criticizing Israel, the one true democracy in the Middle East.”

Undaunted by the Security Council’s approach, Ambassador Haley made it clear that she is determined to halt the U.N.’s anti-Israel bias.

“I’m here to say the United States will not turn a blind eye to this anymore,” she said. “I’m here to underscore the ironclad support of the United States for Israel.”

Ambassador Haley’s resolve signifies a repudiation of the prior Administration’s inclination to abandon Israel at virtually every turn.

Recall, that in the final days of the Obama presidency, his Administration turned its back on Israel at the U.N. by refusing to veto the anti-Israel U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334. As the ACLJ noted at the time:

“In an act of utter cowardice, President Obama has betrayed Israel. The Obama Administration has reversed longstanding U.S. policy, abandoning our ally Israel at the United Nations Security Council by refusing to utilize its veto to block a one-sided measure aimed at delegitimizing Israel. This dramatic shift in U.S. policy leaves our strongest ally in the region vulnerable. To make matters worse, this cowardly act - under the cover of the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays - comes at a time when the fallout will be left to the incoming Administration. Today's action leaves a key ally exposed and weakens U.S. standing in the world. Our allies deserve better, and the American People deserve more from a President in his final month in office.”

The U.N. is in urgent need of a long overdue wake-up call and Ambassador Haley’s courageous statements confirm that the current Administration is prepared to deliver on its promise to shake things up at the U.N.

At the ACLJ, we will continue our fight on Capitol Hill and at the U.N. to defend Israel and work with the new Administration to ensure that our greatest ally in the Middle East is protected.