Another important note about this date is that in 1897, Theodor Herzl hosted the First Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland. At the opening of the conference, he stated that he foresaw that within 50 years, a Jewish state would be established. 50 years after 1897: 1947. Herzl's dream realized.
This was an act of the UN, it was a legitimate political act, and it gave rise to the State of Israel. Why then has the UN decided that November 29th will be used as a day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and a day in which to literally demonize Israel at the UN General Assembly?? November 29 was not a day of mass uprising in Palestine by the Jewish forces present there, it was not a coup against the British, and it does not mark a day of violence. It literally marks the day of passage of UN Resolution 181.
The very fact that the Palestinians do not have a state is because they rejected the UN Partition Plan of 1947 because they refused to accept the establishment of a Jewish State on any piece of land in Palestine. It therefore seems bizarre that the UN would then take this landmark decision of self determination, an important principle for state building at the UN, and turn it on its head and mourn the establishment of Israel. Yet again, the UN's actions with regard to Israel are entirely transparent, and call it double standard or what you will, this is clear discrimination against Israel.
What is not necessarily known is that on this day of Solidarity every year, the UN embarks on a 2 day marathon of Resolutions aimed to condemn Israel, and of the 20 annual resolutions drafted against Israel, each year on November 29, approximately 6 of them are approved. Last year, the President of the General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto of Nicaragua, specifically called Israel an Apartheid state, and the UN traditionally puts up displays with regard to the Palestinian situation, and shows videos about the issue. Although Israel has naturally boycotted these events in the past, Gabriela Shalev, the current Israeli Ambassador to the UN, is expected to speak to the GA about how ridiculous it is that they memorialize the day that Israel was given a state as a day of mourning.
I'm trying hard to think of some words to describe what is going on. Like a number of issues I have already written about, this sort of defies reality. Unfortunately, this is the state of the international affairs. Not to sound too defeatist, but this is just the sort of thing that we just have to deal with, but do so with dignity. How the UN can spend a day condemning their own decision baffles logic, but I guess this is how it goes.
To be Pro-Palestinian does not mean that you have to be Anti-Israel. I am proud to say that I think I am pro-Both. I am a Zionist, but I also believe that the Palestinians have a right to self-determination, and I think that can only live in peace with Israel with a legitimate state of their own. Unfortunately, when the UN acts in this way, they are perpetuating this idea that you have to choose a side, Israel or Palestine, and it is clear based on their history and actions what side they have chosen. This does nothing to encourage progress, and only hinders any steps that are taken in moving forward. How easily the UN could have simply chosen another significant date on which to mark a day of solidarity with the Palestinians.
In this sense, it is important to stay strong in light of all the outside pressures that affect the situation, to not let the judgment of those on the outside of the conflict cloud the reason of those conducting affairs on the ground, and to ensure that we remain committed to a swift resolution to the conflict such that both sides emerge satisfied, safe, and at peace.
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