Watch: Rabbis storm UN Gen Assembly, asks US to stop vetoing peace
The United States repeatedly use its veto power in support of Israel and block any UNSC action against the Zionist regime accused of occupation, and genocide and massacre of the Palestinians. Read More
United Nations: Dozens of American Rabbis Tuesday January 09, 2024 stormed the UN General Assembly (UNGA) protesting the Israeli war in Gaza and asking the United States to stop misusing the veto power.
'Veto Power'
The UNSC has a total of 15 members – 10 temporary and 05 permanent. The veto is a special voting power enjoyed by the five Permanent Members of the UNSC - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.
If any permanent member casts a negative vote, the UNSC resolution or decision fails even if other 14 members have voted in its favour.
The United States repeatedly use its veto power in support of Israel and block any UNSC action against the Zionist regime accused of occupation, and genocide and massacre of the Palestinians.
Of late, the United States used veto power on December 22, 2023, to block a resolution tabled in the UN Security Council calling for ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza strip.
According to the Health Ministry in Palestine, as many as 23,210 people have been killed and more than 59,100 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. More than 7,000 others are either missing or trapped under the debris.
'Rabbis4Ceasefire'
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly Tuesday was debating the repeated use of veto by the United States at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to block these ceasefire and humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
Suddenly, a group of American Rabbis associated with ‘Rabbis for Ceasefire’ stormed the UN General Assembly. They were chanting slogans demanding ceasefire and asking the United States to stop “vetoing peace”.
“Members of Rabbis for Ceasefire brought our message to the UN General Assembly to tell the U.S. to stop vetoing peace. Ceasefire now!” the NGO wrote on social media platform X tagged with a video.
Members of Rabbis for Ceasefire brought our message to the @UN General Assembly to tell the U.S. to stop vetoing peace. Ceasefire now! pic.twitter.com/No21j1CeSL
— Rabbis for Ceasefire (@rodfeishalom) January 9, 2024
The UN security staff suddenly came into action and forced the Rabbis out of the UN headquarters.
'No Holocaust again'
The Rabbis4Ceasefire protest at the UN was co-organized by Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace, and IfNotNow.
As many as 36 Rabbis, the Jewish religious scholars who came from several states, sang, prayed, recited excerpts from the UN Declaration of Human Rights and staged a memorial service.
They also carried banners that read:
“Biden: The World Says Ceasefire.”
Talking to media after their forceful eviction by the UN Security Personnel, Rabbi Alissa Wise, the founder of Rabbis4Ceasefire, said they have been watching in horror as the US government has “single-handedly blocked efforts to stop Israel’s bombing and starvation of Gaza.”
“We know there is no military solution to this violence. We’re praying here because the UN is where meaningful, diplomatic action to stop the violence can take place, and because prayer is how we, as Rabbis, know how to express our fears, dreams, hopes and despair”, she added.
Rabbi Abby Stein, a member of Jews For Racial and Economic Justice, said the UN was created in the aftermath of the Second World War and the Nazi Holocaust that targeted Jewish people, with the intention of ensuring that such an atrocity would never happen again.
“I am here as a Jew, as an ordained rabbi, as the granddaughter of three Holocaust survivors, to urge the UN to follow through on this noble mission,” she said: “Never again means never again for anyone."
'Those spreading violence should leave, not peace activists'
Commenting on the American Rabbis protest and their eviction from the UN headquarters, Deputy Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Majed Bamya, said that people spreading violence should be asked to leave and not the Rabbis who are calling for peace.
“As we were meeting in the General Assembly held in response to the US veto, we heard prayers and chants coming from the balcony. Ceasefire Now! Went to see who it was. Here are some of them as they were being escorted out the UN.” Majed wrote on X.
“Honestly they should stay and those spreading fire should be the ones leaving!” he added.
As we were meeting in the General Assembly held in response to the US veto, we heard prayers and chants coming from the balcony. Ceasefire Now! Went to see who it was. Here are some of them as they were being escorted out the UN. Honestly they should stay and those spreading fire… pic.twitter.com/cHxNHUTVEa
— Ambassador Majed Bamya (@majedbamya) January 9, 2024
Majed also hailed and praised the “Rabbis4ceasefire” and said they are “voice of humanity and peace” and must be heeded.
“Voices calling for a ceasefire are from every faith, creed and origin, and they are coming from every corner of the globe. These voices should be heeded as they are voices of humanity and peace!” he wrote.
Meanwhile, addressing the UN meeting Tuesday, the President of the UN General Assembly said the immediate priority in Gaza must be saving civilian lives.
‘War of Atrocities’
Participating in the UN debate, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, Riyad Mansour, said that he was standing before the Assembly “representing a people being slaughtered, with families killed in their entirety, men and women shot in the streets, thousands abducted, tortured and humiliated, children killed, amputated, orphaned - scarred for life.”
“No people should have to endure such violence and it must stop", he said.
"No one can understand that the Security Council is still being prevented from calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire while 153 States in the General Assembly have called for just that, along with the UN Secretary-General", he said.
"Israel’s assault is "a war of atrocities" without precedent in modern history", he said.
“How can you reconcile opposing the atrocities and vetoing a call to end the war that is leading to their commission?”, he asked.
"Suspend Veto Power"
The State of Palestine has long supported a proposal from France and Mexico “for the suspension of the veto in the case of mass atrocities, when crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on a large scale are committed", Mansour said.
He said the assault on the Palestinians in Gaza, “demonstrates how vital this proposal is. Supporting an immediate ceasefire is the only moral, legitimate, and responsible position.”
"During these last 90 days, 11 Palestinians have been killed every hour, including seven women and children", he told the UN General Assembly.
“This is not about Israeli security. This is about Palestine’s destruction. The interests and objectives of this extremist Israeli government are clear and incompatible with the interests and objectives of any country that supports international law and peace”, Mansour said.
"Security will never come through the death, destruction and dehumanization of Palestinians", he added.
"Palestine is here to stay", he declared adding, “Don’t call for peace and spread fire. If you want peace, start with a ceasefire. Now.”
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