Special information program on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• The resolution perpetuates the anti-Israel Special Information Program on Palestine. It is yet another example of how the neutral UN secretariat is co-opted by the anti-Israel forces at the UN. The program eschews a balanced approach by overtly choosing the Palestinian narrative and ignoring Palestinian terrorism against Israeli men, women, and children and other daily realities of Israeli life. The existence of this program results in resources being taken away from other worthy causes to support this anti-Israel propaganda.
• Moreover, this year the resolution expressly condemned "the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh" and called for accountability in the case. While Abu Akleh's death is tragic, it is highly unusual for a UN resolution to single out for condemnation the specific case of a journalist killed in a conflict zone under unclear circumstances. Given the context, the call for accountability is clearly aimed at Israel.

Main Sponsors

Egypt, Jordan, Senegal, Tunisia, Yemen, Palestine

Vote

Yes - 149, No - 11, Abstain - 13, Absent - 20

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory."
• "Strongly condemns the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, stresses the need for accountability..."