Prosor to UN: If you’re worried about Mideast democracy, focus on PA – not Israel

The UN chided Israelis for their choice of leader in democratic elections, while choosing to ignore the Palestinian Authority’s dictatorship.

By: Reuters and World Israel News Staff

The United Nations said on Wednesday that Israel needs to stick to the peace process with the Palestinians if it wishes to remain a democracy. The statement was made after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected on Tuesday and after he reportedly abandoned a commitment made ahead of his re-election to negotiate a Palestinian state.

In the final days of campaigning before Israeli voters went to the polls, Netanyahu said he would not permit a Palestinian state to be created under his watch.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon believes the peace process is “the best and only way forward for Israel to remain a democratic state,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Ron Prosor responded to Ban’s statement by pointing to the lack of democracy in the Palestinian Authority, saying: “The United Nations may disagree with the policies of the Israeli government, but there is one fact that can’t be disputed – that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.”

“If the UN is so concerned about the future of the Palestinian people, it should be asking why President (Mahmoud) Abbas is in the 10th year of a five-year presidential term,” Prosor asserted.

Ban welcomed the preliminary results of Israel’s election and hopes for the rapid establishment of a government, said Haq.

Ban again urged Israel to resume the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinians. Israel is withholding PA tax revenue as a consequence for Palestinian moves to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), where it plans to pursue Israel for alleged war crimes.