U.N. chief Antonió Guterres rejected a report published by ECSWA, a Beirut-based agency of the world body— ECSWA—comprised entirely of 18 Arab states, which accuses Israel of “apartheid.”
The report’s chief author is Richard Falk, a former U.N. official who was condemned repeatedly by the UK and other governments for antisemitism.
In 2011, Falk was also denounced by his own boss, former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, for espousing 9/11 conspiracy theories which accused the U.S. government, instead of Al Qaeda, of perpetrating the 9/11 terror attacks.
The new report, said Guterres’ spokesman, “does not reflect the views of the Secretary‑General.”
U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley blasted the report, and called on the UN to withdraw it:
The United States is outraged by the report of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). That such anti-Israel propaganda would come from a body whose membership nearly universally does not recognize Israel is unsurprising. That it was drafted by Richard Falk, a man who has repeatedly made biased and deeply offensive comments about Israel and espoused ridiculous conspiracy theories, including about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, is equally unsurprising. The United Nations Secretariat was right to distance itself from this report, but it must go further and withdraw the report altogether. The United States stands with our ally Israel and will continue to oppose biased and anti-Israel actions across the UN system and around the world.
Dear @Reuters: Your story on report accusing Israel of "apartheid"—by a UN agency of 18 Arab states—omitted 10 key facts about its author. ➠ pic.twitter.com/U7Er71cymv
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) March 16, 2017
1/ Author of the report is Richard Falk @rfalk13—one of the world's top supporters of 9/11 conspiracy theorists. https://t.co/OOO5qdXg4s
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) March 16, 2017
ABOUT RICHARD FALK
Falk Blamed Boston Terror Attacks on U.S. & Israel
Richard Falk sought to blame the April 2013 Boston terrorist attack, which left 4 dead and 300 wounded, on “the American global domination project” and “Tel Aviv.” Falk was condemned by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said his comments “undermine the credibility and the work of the United Nations.” U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said that “someone who spews such vitriol has no place at the UN,” and noted the “absurdity” of Mr. Falk’s continued service. The British Mission to the United Nations condemned Falk’s “antisemitic” remarks, highlighting it was the third time they had to do so. Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird condemned Falk’s “mean-spirited, anti-Semitic rhetoric,” and noted that “the United Nations should be ashamed to even be associated with such an individual. Members of the U.S. Congress, Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Mike Kelly, Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rep. Doug Lamborn, Rep. Eliot Engel and Rep. Trent Franks, also condemned Falk.
Human Rights Watch Expelled Falk
Human Rights Watch expelled Falk in December 2012, following the United Nations Watch complaint about his ethical breaches.
PLO Tried to Oust Falk Over His Support of Hamas
As the UN’s rapporteur on Palestine, Falk was so extreme in his support for the Hamas terrorist organization that even the Palestinian Authority tried to remove him, on grounds that he was a “partisan of Hamas”:
Richard Falk, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, said on Monday the Palestinian Authority urged him to step down after he criticized the PA’s treatment of a UN war crimes report… Falk said PA officials formally approached him in February asking him to resign… “Informally they say different things, things that are essentially untrue, that my health doesn’t me allow to do the job or that I’m a partisan of Hamas.”
See also Wikileaks cable here:
Also on February 16, in a separate conversation with Charge and PolCouns, PA DPR Zuhairi was visibly upset by Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the OPT Richard Falk’s reference to Hamas in his draft report. In para 8, Falk states that UNGA resolution 64/10 calls on Hamas – vice the PA – to undertake investigations. Zuhairi argued that he had too often corrected Falk’s many errors and that this latest misguided effort by Falk had gone too far… In light of the reference to Hamas, Zuhairi said he had called Falk personally and asked him to step down, something Falk angrily rejected. Zuhairi sought our advice on how best to approach the issue, particularly in light of currently OIC and African Group attempts to censure the secret detention study. Charge and PolCouns, while acknowledging the problem of recognizing Hamas, told Zuhairi that the U.S. defended the independence of the special procedures mandate holders and that we objected to state’s use of the code of conduct as a means to muzzle rapporteurs.
U.N. Rights Chief & PM David Cameron, Condemned Falk for Antisemitic Cartoon
Falk published on his website a cartoon showing a dog wearing a Jewish head covering, and with “USA” written on its body, urinating on a depiction of justice and devouring a bloody skeleton, for which he was condemned by British Prime Minister David Cameron and other public figures, including UN rights chief Navi Pillay.
UK Condemned Falk for Endorsing Antisemitic Book “The Wandering Who”
Falk’s cover endorsement of a virulently antisemitic book entitled “The Wandering Who” was act condemned by the British Foreign Office.
Falk Accused Israel of Planning “Palestinian Holocaust”
In 2007, Falk accused Israel of planning a “Palestinian Holocaust.”
U.N. Chief Condemned Falk for 9/11 Conspiracy Theories
Falk has become one of the world’s most high-profile supporters of 9/11 conspiracy theorists, lending his name to those who accuse the U.S. government of orchestrating the destruction of the Twin Towers as a pretext to launch wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He promotes the writings of David Ray Griffin, a disciple and close friend of Mr. Falk who has produced 12 books describing the World Trade Center attack as “an inside job.”
Falk contributed the Foreword to Griffin’s 2004 book “The New Pearl Harbor,” where he praised the author’s “patience,” “fortitude,” “courage,” and “intelligence.” In turn, Griffin credits Falk for getting the book published.
Falk has repeatedly appeared on the “TruthJihad.com” show of Kevin Barrett, a 9/11 conspiracy theorist and Holocaust skeptic who rails against the “ethnic Jews” who he says run Washington and the media, a show on which Falk has endorsed Barrett’s “good work” while also praising Iranian tyrant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In 2011, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took the floor of the Human Rights Council to issue an unprecedented condemnation of Mr. Falk’s 9/11 remarks, saying they were “preposterous” and “an affront to the memory of the more than 3,000 people who died in that tragic terrorist attack.”
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice denounced Falk’s 9/11 remarks as “despicable and deeply offensive,” condemned his “one-sided and politicized approach,” deplored his comments for being “so noxious that it should finally be plain to all that he should no longer continue in his position,” and noted that “the cause of human rights will be better advanced without Mr. Falk and the distasteful sideshow he has chosen to create.”
