How Israel continues to defy the United Nations

In light of another shameful and empty attack on Israel by the UN, one would think that the tiny Jewish state is, and will remain, perpetually isolated. The left-leaning and biased media will continue to report the false narrative about Israel’s increased isolation. Israel is heading toward apartheid they will say, and will in due time be regarded as a pariah state.

What the media does not say is how successful Israel has been in defying the anti-Semitic UN, which receives over 30 percent of its budget from the anti-Israel “Organization of Islamic Cooperation.” On the contrary, Israel has never been more embraced, more popular, and more valuable to so many countries across the world. In fact, outside of the UN, the “Palestinian” cause and the BDS movement has been a total flop.

One would ask how Israel has been so successful, despite receiving more condemnations from the UN than any other country combined. Yes, there are more resolutions against Israel at the UN than Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, Nigeria, and Somalia combined. The UN has been a hostile place for Israel, practically since its reestablishment. As Israel’s late Minister of Foreign Affairs Abba Eben said, “If Algeria introduced a resolution declaring that the earth was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164 to 13 with 26 abstentions.” So how does Israel continue to thrive, despite such consistent condemnation in the world’s leading international forum? The answer is simple. Technology.

Israel a country that is almost 70 years young, with little natural resources, spends 4.5 percent of its GDP on R&D, more than any other country. This has resulted in a world class military and education system, and a country that produces more start-ups per capita than any other country in the world, including the United States. Israel is home to 350 multinational R&D centres, which include Apple, Facebook, Samsung, Google, Amazon, HP, and many others. Israel is a world leader in Water, Agriculture, Energy, Cyber Security, Autonomous Vehicles, Artificial Intelligence, Medical Marijuana, and many other fields. Contrast that with the “Palestinian” Authority, which has produced next to nothing of value, despite receiving tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid over the last several decades.

Israel’s investment in technology is paying dividends. For example, in Asia, Israel has been making huge strides. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in China and India. Trade between Israel and China, the world’s second largest economy, has reached $12 billion, and is expected to double after the signing of a Free Trade Agreement. In 2016 alone, Chinese companies invested $16.5 billion in Israel. Israel’s relations with India, the world’s largest democracy, are flowering, with annual trade reaching 5 billion dollars, an amount that is expected to triple in the next 15 years. Israel is also negotiating free trade agreements with South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore. Israel’s trade with Japan, the world’s third largest economy, has been increasing steadily as well, reaching 3 billion dollars in 2016, an amount that is expected to increase substantially in the coming years.

Israel’s relations in Africa are also surging. After the Yom Kippur war of 1973, the oil-producing Arab countries blackmailed the vast majority of the 54 African nations into cutting ties with Israel. However, due to Israel’s expertise in water, agriculture, cyber security, and counter terrorism, attitudes have begun to change rapidly. PM Netanyahu has visited Africa three times in the last 18 months alone. Just this month, the U.S brought Israel into the Power Africa program, which will bring Israeli technology to people all over Africa. An historic Israel-Africa Conference is scheduled to occur in 2018, which will likely be attended by 25 – 30 heads of state from Africa.

In 2017, PM Netanyahu became the first Israeli PM to visit Latin America, strengthening relations with Argentina, Columbia, and Mexico. There is also talk of a second trip in 2018 to Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay.

The relations that Israel is establishing are starting to pay off at the UN, despite Israel’s recent defeat. The “Palestinian” authority was expecting at least 150 “No Votes” in support. They received only 128. 15 African countries abstained, and Togo voted in Israel’s favor. Israeli allies Kenya and Zambia chose not to even attend. Several Latin American countries also abstained, including Mexico, whose President promised not to betray Israel at the UN. In the Caribbean, countries that the “Palestinian” Authority could always count on, abstained as well.

In the foreseeable future the UN will remain hostile to Israel, since Israel will not commit national suicide and go back to the indefensible pre-1967 borders. However, Israel will continue to defy the UN and continue to thrive, as technology and ingenuity become much more important than oil. PM Netanyahu is 100 percent correct. The automatic majority against Israel at the UN is going to end, and sooner than most think.