Craig Mokhiber, the director of the UN Human Rights Office in New York, has announced his resignation in a scathing letter that accuses the UN of failing to protect the rights and lives of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The organization has “surrendered to the power of the US” and given in to the “Israeli lobby,” Craig Mokhiber has said.
Mokhiber, who has served in his position since 2018, said he could no longer work for an organization that has “surrendered to the power of the US” and given in to the “Israeli lobby,” which he said has “effectively neutralized” any meaningful action by the UN to end the “genocide” of Palestinians.
In his letter, which was leaked to the media, Mokhiber said he was “ashamed” of the UN’s “complicity” in Israel’s violations of international law, human rights and humanitarian norms. He cited several examples of the UN’s inaction, such as its refusal to implement the recommendations of the Goldstone Report on Israel’s 2008-2009 assault on Gaza, its silence on Israel’s illegal annexation of parts of the West Bank and Jerusalem, its failure to hold Israel accountable for its use of lethal force against unarmed protesters in the Great March of Return, and its lack of support for the International Criminal Court’s investigation into Israel’s war crimes.
Mokhiber also criticized the UN’s double standards and hypocrisy, saying that while it imposes sanctions and resolutions on other countries for human rights violations, it does nothing to pressure Israel to comply with its obligations under international law. He said that the UN has become a “tool” for the US and its allies to advance their interests in the region while ignoring the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
Mokhiber’s resignation has sparked mixed reactions from different parties. Some praised him for his courage and integrity, while others condemned him for his bias and hostility towards Israel.
The UN spokesperson said that Mokhiber’s letter was a “personal opinion” that does not reflect the official position of the UN, which remains committed to a peaceful and just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state formula. The Israeli ambassador to the UN said that Mokhiber’s letter was a “shameful display of anti-Semitism” and a “betrayal” of the UN’s values and principles. The Palestinian representative to the UN said that Mokhiber’s letter was a “wake-up call” for the international community to take action to end Israel’s occupation and oppression of Palestinians.