Yet another reason to despise the United Nations.
Betsy's Page
They scheduled a debate on a motion condemning Israel on Passover when they knew that the Israeli diplomats would not be present. Of course, they would never do such a thing regarding a Muslim state and holiday. And, of course, the United Nations is closed for Good Friday. Some religions are more equal than others.
<<< When the American ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, asked the members of the Security Council yesterday whether they thought it appropriate on Passover, a major Jewish holy day, to debate a motion denouncing Israel, most of the 15 ambassadors failed to grasp what was wrong, according to diplomats present at the meeting, held behind closed doors.
The council scheduled yesterday's meeting after a few days of consultations, hoping to reach an agreement on a statement regarding Israel and the Palestinian Arab territories. No agreement was reached because, according to Mr. Bolton, the text proposed by Qatar, the Arab member of the council, was "not fair and balanced."
The council instead will meet Monday for an open meeting, in which dozens of U.N. members will deliver speeches in what one diplomat described as a "group therapy session."
Non-members of the council do not take part in closed-door consultations like the one that took place yesterday. But diplomats from countries whose affairs are being discussed wait in a room near the council, where they are briefed on the goings-on by friendly council members and where they try to lobby council members.
Israeli diplomats are always present during such consultations, but yesterday they were conspicuous in their absence. A diplomat, who asked for anonymity because Israeli officials are supposed to decline interviews during the first 24 hours of Passover, told The New York Sun that the council had been notified in advance that no Israelis would come to Turtle Bay during the holiday. >>>
And, of course, Kofi Annan is untroubled by this scheduling insult.
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