UN Watch
UN Watch is a Geneva-based front for the American Jewish Committee [1] with ties to the U.S. State Department. It was established during the Clinton Administration in 1993.
Mission and History
According to its own "Mission and History" statement, UN Watch is "Headed by Ambassador Alfred H. Moses (Chair), former US Ambassador to Romania and Presidential Emissary for the Cyprus Conflict, UN Watch is governed by an international board whose members include: Per Ahlmark (European Co-Chair), former Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden; Professor Irwin Cotler, international human rights advocate and former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Canada; David A. Harris (Co-Chair), AJC Executive Director; Ambassador Max Jakobson, former Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN in New York; and Ruth Wedgwood, professor of international law and diplomacy at Johns Hopkins University".[2] Chairman Morris B. Abram is a former U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
UN Watch also stated: "UN Watch believes in the United Nations' mission on behalf of the international community to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and provide for a more just world."
Neocon Europe, UN Watch
Campaigns
UN Watch devotes much of its effort to documenting the many ways that the UN criticises Israel.
Antisemitism
A 2007 report, "The United Nations and Anti-Semitism", 2004-2007 Report Card states:
While progress in some areas was encouraging, our report also revealed inaction, and, worse, the aiding and abetting of anti-Semitism through an infrastructure of manifestly one-sided and irrational UN measures designed to demonize the Jewish state. In the fight against anti-Semitism, and dealing with its own past, it is clear that the UN needs to do far more.[3]
Richard Falk
UN Watch accused Professor Richard Falk, the 80 year-old UN Rapporteur for Palestinians of having placed an antisemitic cartoon on his blog.[4] The cartoon in question can be seen on a screen-dump of the blog page here and, while not very easy to see, it is alleged that the attack-dog in the drawing is wearing a kippah. Falk's initial reaction was "It is a complete lie. I know nothing about such a cartoon, and would never publish such a thing, ever". He later defended the cartoon but removed it anyway.
UN response
In 1997, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan wrote a letter to Ambassador Morris B. Abram, Chairman of UN Watch, Jan. 30, 1997.:
"I deeply appreciate the valuable work performed by UN Watch. I believe that informed and independent evaluation of the United Nations' activities will prove a vital source as we seek to adapt the Organization to the needs of a changing world. I can promise you that I will pay close attention to your observations and views in the years ahead."[2]
See also Secretary-General Annan's 1999 Tribute to UN Watch Founder Morris B. Abram.
Notes
- ↑ UN Watch personnel have complained that they were portrayed as an arm of the American Jewish Committee. The AJC's website (since 2007 and at least until Oct 2011) claims this to be the case. The AJC website states: "AJC maintains offices in Berlin, Brussels (Transatlantic Institute), Geneva (UN Watch) ..."
- ↑ a b UNWatch Mission and History "UN Watch believes in the United Nations' mission on behalf of the international community to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and provide for a more just world." Verified in Oct 2011.
- ↑ "The United Nations and Anti-Semitism" 2004-2007 Report Card 1st Nov 2007.
- ↑ Timeline: Richard Falk's Anti-Semitic Cartoon, Denial, and Non-Apology Apology Press Release "July 6, 10:38 AM - Falk responds: "It is a complete lie. I know nothing about such a cartoon, and would never publish such a thing, ever."
