U.N. Secretary-General Produces Another U.N. Report Condemning Israel and Minimizing Palestinian Terror

A newly released report issued by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accuses Israel of damaging Palestinian social and economic conditions, while minimizing Israeli security concerns and whitewashing Palestinian responsibility for their own conditions. The report, released in late June 2018, was drafted by the infamous Lebanon-based Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), a UN commission which last year was forced to withdraw a report accusing Israel of apartheid and whose former head resigned in wake of the scandal. However, the Secretary-General had no problem putting his name on the new report, which maintains ESCWA's anti-Israel bias.

The report includes a litany of complaints and allegations against Israel:

• The report claims that Palestinians who were killed during stabbing and car ramming terror attacks against Israel were "civilians": "6. Between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018, 80 Palestinian civilians, including 3 women and 17 children, were killed by the Israeli army, the security apparatus or settlers... A number of the casualties had been involved or allegedly involved in attacks against Israelis. During the same period, 16 Israelis were killed and 119 were injured."
• The report accuses Israel of "collective punishment": "18. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities carried out nine punitive demolitions of family homes of Palestinians suspected of having carried out attacks, a measure that may amount to collective punishment"
• The report criticizes Israel for acting to prevent the transfer of weapons into Hamas-controlled Gaza: "43. Citing security concerns, the Israeli army has also enforced 'access-restricted areas' along the border fence with Israel and at sea, significantly undermining the right of Palestinian fishermen and farmers to a livelihood"
• The report contains an entire section criticizing Israel for its activities on the "Occupied Syrian Golan" (the place to which Syrians flee for Israeli medical care) - while Assad forces and Islamic State terrorists massacre Syrian civilians in "unoccupied" Syria
• The report's conclusion blames Israel and the "occupation" for the social and economic condition of Palestinians - ignoring the responsibility of the repressive and corrupt Palestinian Authority and Hamas regimes for their own people, and their ongoing terrorist campaigns to destroy the Jewish state: "123...The impact of the prolonged occupation and the policies and practices of Israel on the Palestinian people, society and economy is multilayered and has accumulated negative effects over the years."
• The conclusion calls for "justice" for Palestinians and Syrians under "occupation." Spelling out the words justice for Israelis was apparently too much: "125. Adherence to international law is an absolute imperative, ensuring that no party enjoys impunity and securing justice and peace for all those living in the region, including those Palestinians and Syrians living under occupation."