‘Abstain’ is a Sinister anti-Israel “Yes” Vote!

by Steven Shamrak

Despite Israeli lobbying efforts against the Goldstone Report, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva passed the resolution 25-6. Shamefully, 11 countries abstained: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, and Uruguay. Even more offensive and disturbing was that five countries, including the two biggest anti-Israel bigots and so-called super powers, ran away and did not vote at all: the United Kingdom, France, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Angola. But their deliberate indifference and attempt to avoid responsibility these countries gave the appearance of legitimacy to the resolution.

At least the 25 states that voted in favour of the resolution clearly stated their position and attitude toward Israel or some of them have surrendered to pressure from the oil rich Arab countries. They are: Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia. By viewing this list and the ‘quality’ of the countries in it one can make a fear assessment of the true agenda of the UN Human Rights Committee. It was a big disappointment to see India, the country which is greatly benefiting from a friendship with Israel, among the list of bigots.

Countries that displayed integrity by opposing the resolution were: Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine and the United States. They did not succumb to Islamic pressure and maintained their impartiality and honesty!

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that the UN Human Rights Committee resolution that approved the Goldstone report was "unbalanced" and that it would "exacerbate polarization and divisiveness.” What he forgot to add was that the old and the new UN Human Rights Committee have been exhibiting a strong and well established tradition of anti-Israel bias traits, if not anti-Semitic ones!