AS the world vents its anger via massive protests everywhere, Israel’s effrontery towards war criminality and peace is clearly demonstrated in its continuous slaughter of innocent Gazans.
Israel dramatically escalated its aerial assault, targeting hundreds of Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip, since last week, as Palestinians reported that the strikes also hit homes, schools, shops, mosques and beachside cafes, raising the total number of people killed in the offensive to the hundreds.
Now, United Nations’ members, including Malaysia, are wringing their hands, not knowing what to do after having many UN resolutions against Israel over the years, calling for an immediate ceasefire, were rebuffed by the “rogue” nation.
Israel’s prime minister even vowed, last Friday, to press forward with a broad military offensive in the Gaza Strip, saying international pressure would not stop a determined effort to halt rocket fire by Palestinian militants.
It is a gross mistake for Israelis to ignore what the world thinks or refuse to comply with UN policies. By ignoring the voices of other nations, Israel not only isolates itself, but also incites hatred towards its citizens around the world. By not heeding advice, Israel has flagrantly violated international law.
Perhaps, Israel has forgotten that it owes the UN for its very existence in 1948, when on Nov 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly approved the UN Partition Plan for Palestine Resolution 181 by terminating the British Mandate of Palestine, while creating two states: one Jewish and one Arab.
If it had not been for the UN, the Jews would not have been able to establish a nation of their own that they could call the “promised land” or “home”.
In fact, the UN specifically created the Truce Supervision Organisation in 1948 to monitor truces between Israel and its Arab neighbours. Since its inception, Israel has been nothing but a thorn in the UN’s side.
Not only has it persistently violated the UN Charter policies, but Israel, emboldened by Western support, has defiantly stepped up its barbaric methods in waging wars against its neighbours.
Israel’s crime against humanity has been well recorded over the years. In its latest carnage, it has tried to hide its atrocities of bombing the starving population of 1.5 million Gazans until today, banning the Red Cross, foreign aid and foreign media coverage.
It is time for the UN to take stern action against Israel by expelling it. It is worth remembering that the UN is an inter-governmental organisation to promote international cooperation. A replacement for the ineffective League of Nations, it was created following World War 2 to prevent conflict among nations.
There is a clause for expelling a member state in the UN Charter. Article 6 of the Charter states: “A member of the UN that has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organisation by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council”.
Once Israel is expelled, the UN no longer has to recognise the legitimacy of its statehood, which is the very heart of Israel’s objective in its bloody battles with its neighbours in the region.
Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow, senior lecturer, Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negri Sembilan