UN Secretary-General Promotes Modern Antisemitism at Opening of UN General Assembly

On September 20, 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke to world leaders at the opening of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. In his last speech as UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon condemned Israel before North Korea, and slammed Israelis tilling the land before North Korea's brutal dictator developing nuclear weapons. He also belittled the Jewish democracy before a couple of passing mentions of Ukraine and South Sudan - making no specific mention of Putin's aggression and murderous rampage through Crimea, or the horrific death and destruction in the UN's newest member.

This is modern antisemitism personified. Never once did the Secretary-General mention "terrorism." Never once did he point to Israeli suffering at the hands of Palestinian terrorists or incitement against Jews. Never once did he refer to ISIS, Al Qaeda, Da'esh, Boko Haram, or Hamas. The United Nations today is an abomination, openly enabling those who seek to subvert the fundamental values of equality and human dignity.

In the words of the Secretary-General:

"One year ago, Palestine proudly waved its flag at UN Headquarters. Yet the prospects for a two-state solution are being lowered by the day. All the while, the occupation grinds into its 50th year.

As a friend of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, it pains me that this past decade has been ten years lost to peace. Ten years lost to illegal settlement expansion. Ten years lost to intra-Palestinian divide, growing polarization and hopelessness.

This is madness. Replacing a two-state solution with a one-state construct would spell doom: denying Palestinians their freedom and rightful future, and pushing Israel further from its vision of a Jewish democracy towards greater global isolation.

On the Korean Peninsula, the fifth nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has again threatened regional and international security. Meanwhile, the people's suffering and plight are worsening. I urge the leaders of the DPRK to change course and fulfil their obligations – to their own people and to the family of nations.

In Ukraine, the violence has caused an internal upheaval, renewed tensions across Europe and rekindled geopolitical rivalries.

In South Sudan, leaders have also betrayed their people."