Analysis: Who voted for Israel at the United Nations? Why did most Pacific Island countries vote?
Mark Stone US Correspondent
Today, the majority of the world’s nations voted in favor of the Palestinians at the United Nations.
But who are the nine countries that voted against the Palestinian cause for UN membership, rights and privileges, and why?
Israel
The current Israeli government is firmly opposed to a Palestinian state in every sense of the word.
Various iterations of Israeli government over the years have wavered over “two states,” but after the October 7 Hamas attack, Israel’s position on neither two states nor a Palestinian state has been solidified.
Broadly speaking, they do not distinguish between the extremism of Hamas and the moderate nature of other Palestinian political factions, such as the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. That’s the crux of the deadlock.
So who else is there?
US
They support Israel, despite the current great tension between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The United States is working on a two-state solution, but insists it starts with a cease-fire and that the establishment of a Palestinian state is a long way off.
“We continue to believe in the promise of a two-state solution and an independent state for the Palestinian people,” White House Press Secretary John Kirby said after the vote.
“That is something that President Biden remains fully and decisively committed to, and we believe that the best way to do that is through direct negotiations with the parties, rather than this kind of vote at the United Nations. We voted no.”
As always in geopolitics, relationships are often symbiotic. Even if on the surface the relationships seem contradictory, they are all aimed at mutual benefit.
Hungary
EU member states in Eastern Europe voted for Israel and against the Palestinians.
Far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán hates Hungarian-born Jewish American billionaire George Soros, even though anti-Soros rhetoric is often considered anti-Semitic. Please do not think that it is a reflection of his views on.
Anti-Semitism has dogged Hungary’s political rights since World War II, when half a million Hungarian Jews were murdered. However, Prime Minister Orban and Prime Minister Netanyahu have a long-standing close relationship.
Israel and Hungary are aligned due to mutual interests.
Prime Minister Orban admires Netanyahu’s spirit of building strength from small nation-states and the two leaders’ shared interest in confronting the headwinds of liberal democracy.
Prime Minister Orban’s relationship with the EU is consistent with Netanyahu’s assessment that Europe is becoming increasingly anti-Israel.
Hatred of Soros is consistent with Netanyahu in that Soros is a conspiracy to somehow “Islamize” Judeo-Christian Europe with his pro-immigration stance.
Argentina
Argentina’s vote is driven by its new populist president, Javier Mirei, who has pledged unwavering support for Prime Minister Netanyahu and vowed to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem.
Millay said he plans to convert to Judaism.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic also voted in favor of Israel, in line with its strong pro-Israel stance that has been repeatedly emphasized since October 7.
There are strong historical ties between Czech leaders and the Zionist movement, which helped consolidate the Jewish state, which was strengthened after the fall of communism in 1989.
As a new democracy, the Czech Republic joined forces with the young democracy of Israel. In recent years, economic ties have flourished.
pacific island countries
The rest, oddly enough, are probably all Pacific island nations: Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, and Palau.
The reason they are supported is simple. It’s simple soft power.
All small developing countries receive generous Israeli aid from their governments and Israeli charities.
In return, the understanding is that they will always support Israel in the international organizations to which they are members.
Although Israel claims its motives are primarily humanitarian, officials freely admit that it is also about positioning Israel in a better light.
Israel is skillfully leveraging its wealth of expertise in many areas.
For example, when natural disasters occur, Israeli rescue workers are often the first to arrive on the scene.
This targeted soft power diplomacy helped win votes for Israel, but also resulted in abstentions in Israel’s favor in many other countries.
However, in this vote on Palestine, world opinion was overwhelmingly against Israel.
