The United Nations: Let Us In!

It’s safe to say that relations between Israel and the United Nations are not exactly warm. Historically, Israel has a tough time gaining traction in that forum. Many countries have hardened their hearts toward Israel’s arguments about human rights; they have bought into Hamas’ propaganda and blame Israel for the suffering of the Palestinian people, ignoring the role that the terrorist network plays in oppressing the Palestinian population.

Therefore, when Israel and the UN have positive interactions, the event is newsworthy. The Associated Press reports:

Israel’s Foreign Ministry says it would enable the entry of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton into Gaza, following their requests to visit the territory.

Israel has routinely banned foreign officials from crossing into Gaza since Hamas’ violent takeover of the strip in 2007, maintaining that such visits bolster the Islamic militant group. Officials can enter Gaza from Egypt.

The United Nations is arguably the most influential NGO in the world. While the organization tends to produce and support documents like the Goldstone Report, it cannot be denied that warmer relations between Israel and the United Nations could be a powerful force for positive change in the region.

There have also been reports this week that Israel will allow a United Nations team of bomb detonators to enter Gaza and clean up explosives left behind by last year’s outbreak of violence. This work is absolutely essential for achieving peace.

Both of these instances seem like relatively small concessions for Israel (if they even look like concessions at all). However, it’s important to remember the context; Israel has not traditionally trusted the UN enough to allow these kinds of missions. At a time when indirect peace negotiations are resuming and Israel finds itself in more difficult diplomatic relations with its neighbors, opening up its borders to international NGOs can only help. Let us hope that this visit produces a more nuanced result than Goldstone’s.