U.S. Envoy Urges UN to Take More Balanced Approach to Israel

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield chided colleagues at the Security Council for their anti-Israeli bias on Tuesday, according to The Times of Israel.

“This Council spends a great deal of time on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is both understandable and consistent with the agenda. But far too often, the substance of these discussions is centered almost entirely around criticism of Israel and counterattacks,” she said.

“I sincerely hope that going forward, Council members will do their best to take a more balanced approach. Also, there are other countries and situations in the region that merit Security Council attention and should not be neglected,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

In what was perceived to be a veiled criticism of Israel, however, she stated that “humanitarian actors need regular, predictable, and sustained access to Gaza.” Israel controls most access to Gaza and does permit delivery of civilian goods, but bans importation of materials that could be used for terrorist activities.

She also asked countries to follow the Biden administration’s example after it donated $318 million to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, while calling for the organization to “undertake the necessary reforms to ensure its financial sustainability.”

Following up on a recent pledge to raise the issue at the international forum, Thomas-Greenfield demanded that Hamas end its “cruel detention of two Israeli civilians,” Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, and return the bodies of fallen soldiers Hadar Goldin Hy”d and Oron Shaul Hy”d.

On the other hand, she expressed the US’ deep concern with recent “settler” violence against Palestinians and their property, and called on the Israeli government to investigate the attacks, “including the response by Israeli security forces,” who have often been filmed standing idly by without intervening.