The U.N.'s vote against Israel and its historic contradictions

"In a changing world where Iran, Russia, Turkey and others routinely violate international law, the focus on Israel appears misplaced.

On the one hand, the UN’s request that the International Court of Justice examine the issue of Israel’s ‘occupation, settlement and annexation’ is merely following in the footsteps of countless other condemnations of Israel. Back in 2016, the Security Council slammed Israel for its ‘settlement’ activities. The US, at the time, did not veto the resolution, a surprise move that came at the very end of the Obama administration.

The current resolution is simply part of a larger process.

The focus on Israel and the ‘occupation’ has always been disproportionate at the UN.

Under ‘international law,’ Israel is often singled out. Considering the changing world, in which Russia has annexed Crimea and invaded Ukraine, and Turkey is illegally occupying Afrin in Syria, it is worth considering why and how Israel alone seems to be at the center of these international law disputes.

Israel’s role in the West Bank is not unique. Whether it is issues of ‘annexation’ or demographic changes, these are processes that have happened elsewhere.

Israel’s actions used to be seen as unique among most democracies or Western allies and thus Israel should be held to a higher standard. This is not factually accurate today, considering that Turkey has invaded parts of Syria and caused ethnic cleansing of Kurds and resettled other people in these areas. Turkey is a NATO member. This isn’t an issue of ‘whataboutism;’ international law ostensibly applies to all countries equally..."