I have been a supporter of the United Nations since its inception, given that I believe, despite all its shortcomings, it remains a somewhat neutral ground for the countries of the world to attempt to maintain world peace through diplomacy.

It has experienced plenty of failures, has certainly disappointed us here in Israel on many occasions, yet, the initial establishment of the state was codified by a  1947 UN resolution and, at the time, we were very grateful for that vote.  Frankly, it may have been the last time the UN voted in our favor on anything, although I have no quantitative proof of that.

Nevertheless, last week the UN debased itself at a level unseen in its history.  At a meeting of the 54-nation Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in Geneva, the Council nominated the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN’s Committee for Program and Coordination, which will meet next month to shape policy on women’s rights, human rights, disarmament, and terrorism prevention.  According to custom, ECOSOC’s nomination is effectively decisive, as the UN General Assembly customarily rubber-stamps such nominations by acclamation.

Sadly, Canada, France, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Australia, the UK, and other democracies voted to approve the election of a country known for its serial abuse of human rights, to a key UN body that oversees human rights.  Talk about a world turned upside down.

Other well-known abusers of human rights elected to the committee were China, Cuba,........

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