Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor. (AP/John Minchillo)
Flying the Palestinian flag at UN headquarters would not only undermine Israeli interests, but also diminish the stature of the world body, Ambassador Ron Prosor told the UN chief.
Israel issued a sharp response to a Palestinian demand to raise its flag at UN headquarters in New York during the General Assembly and Pope Francis‘ visit at the UN next month.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor penned a strong message to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, accusing the Palestinians of exploiting any instance they can to “score easy and meaningless points at the UN.” Prosor urged Ban to reject the demand – for the UN’s sake. Adhering to such demands would only impair the UN mission and “surrender…this institution to an intimidating and cynical political agenda,” he said.
“Once again the Palestinians prefer to score easy and meaningless points at the UN simply because they can. They don’t hesitate to manipulate the UN system, this time by exploiting the Holy See…
“Rather than choosing to negotiate in good faith while making the required compromises, they prefer hollow one-sided resolutions.” Prosor charged.
The ambassador noted that “for 70 years, the United Nations has raised only flags of full member states. I find it difficult to understand why, after 70 years, there is such an urgency to change longstanding practices.”
The UN has “longstanding traditions, symbols and protocols that have become an essential and integral part of its legacy,“ which “must be safeguarded,” he continued. “As the gatekeeper of this institution, I call on you to reject this aggressive behavior at the UN.”
UN protocols must not be “turned into mere recommendations, and we cannot surrender to the arbitrary changes that are imposed solely for narrow, cynical and political purposes of certain groups,” Prosor said.
The Vatican and the Palestinian Authority are the only non-member entities to have asked permission to fly their flags at the UN. The Vatican, however, canceled its request.
The Vatican initially joined the Palestinian appeal in a draft resolution calling for the flags of “Palestine” and the Holy See to fly at the UN, but later asked that the Palestinian UN mission remove all references to the Vatican in the document.
This latest request by the Palestinians is apparently part of its international campaign to fight Israel.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
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