Following World War I, the League of Nations was founded in an effort to maintain world peace.  However, the organization was unsuccessful in its attempt to prevent war through disarmament, negotiation and arbitration.  It had no armed forces of its own, so depended upon the world’s great powers to enforce resolutions.

That did not work.  World War II broke out in 1939, and when it ended world leaders again sought to prevent another world conflict.  The United Nations was established in October 1945 to promote international cooperation.

According to the UN Charter, the purposes include taking measures to prevent and remove threats to peace and to suppress acts of aggression (among others).  But take note of these facts:

• The Durban Declaration labeled Israel as racist. (See here.)
• 35% of all resolutions and decisions by the Human Rights Council of the UN condemn Israel.
• 50% of emergency general assembly sessions were convened to denounce Israel. No emergency special sessions regarding any other nation have been called in over 30 years.
• In the 2013 General Assembly, 70% of all resolutions criticizing nations for human rights abuses were levied against Israel.
• The UN Division for Palestinian Rights denies entry to public meetings at UN Headquarters in New York City to Jews or Zionists.
• In May 2014 a film fictitiously portraying Israel attacking Palestinian children was aired by the UN.

On August 6, 2014, the UN again commenced a special session of the General Assembly for the purpose of denouncing Israel.  They are accused of destroying “homes and neighborhoods” and “civilian infrastructure” in Gaza.  Yet, not a word was spoken about the miles of terrorist tunnels from Gaza opening into Israeli territory, or the extraordinary amount of explosives found therein and meant to kill Jews.  There was condemnation for the killing of innocent civilians, though Israeli intelligence provides evidence that many of the so-called “civilians” were indeed men of military age and likely associated with Hamas.  (Not the great number of women and children that some media accounts allege.)

Despite evidence that UN-sponsored schools were used as Hamas rocket storage facilities, and immediate areas were used as staging areas for rocket attacks, UN officials (including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon) defended Hamas.  Ki-moon stated, “Mere suspicion of militant activity does not justify jeopardizing the lives and safety of many thousands of innocent civilians.”

While hammering Israel in the General Assembly, here are some of the activities that went on in other parts of the world:

• 1600 people died in Iraq alone in the month of July 2014.
• ISIS and other Sunnis killed over 5000 civilians in the first half of 2014.
• 40,000 religious minorities (including Christians) in Iraq are being starved or murdered.
• 2000 Syrians were killed in July alone
• Boko Haram (an Islamic terror group operating primarily in Africa) killed over 2000 people in the first 6 months of 2014.
• In Ukraine, over a 1000 have lost their lives since April, and Russian tanks line the border.

Not surprisingly, no emergency sessions of the General Assembly have been called for any of those issues.  There are no emergency sessions pending for actions in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Ukraine or any other nation on earth.  Indeed, while the UN ignores criminal actions perpetrated by Israel’s enemies, they promote anti-Semitism around the world.  (Read this recent Jerusalem Post op-ed for more detail.)

Christian friends, this should not come as a surprise.  The Bible tells us that, in the last days, all nations will turn against Israel (Zechariah 12:3, Zechariah 14:2)  The UN may very well be an organization that facilitates the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy, and the day we see that fulfillment may be right around the corner.  While nations (including the US) may turn their backs, the Bible tells us that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed (Genesis 12:3).  Friends, let’s stand firm on the right side of that equation!

Blessings and shalom!