Joseph A. Klein, CFP United Nations Columnist

UN Security Council Moves Slowly Ahead on Syria

In a small incremental but constructive step forward, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a humanitarian aid resolution on July 14th regarding embattled Syria. The purpose of the resolution is to enable increased access to civilians in difficult-to-reach areas by authorizing the delivery of humanitarian assistance across more national borders and internal conflict lines.

The Palestinian Rocket and Propaganda Offensive

Palestinians are successfully pushing this outrageous, truth-challenged narrative in their favorite venue, the United Nations

Hamas’s Nazi-Style Rocket Blitz

The Palestinian unity government, via its co-equal partner Hamas, is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against Israeli civilians. Hamas has launched scores of rockets from Gaza aimed at major Israeli cities covering more than half of Israel, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Caesarea. The attacks have escalated from 6 on June 27th to more than 160 on July 8th. This is Hamas’s version of the Nazi-style air blitz, meant to terrorize the Israeli population into submission. Imitating Nazi tactics is a logical extension of the great esteem which Hamas leaders and their Palestinian forebears have held for Adolf Hitler.

Fallout at the UN Regarding Abducted Israeli Teenagers

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned Israel’s response to the abduction of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank that occurred earlier this June, and joined the call of Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour for the United Nations Security Council to take action against Israel.

UN Chief Lashes Out on the Syrian Crisis

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon prefers quiet diplomacy rather than confrontational public speeches. However, in a lengthy address he delivered on June 20th to the Asia Society regarding the worsening crisis in Syria that is spreading outside its borders to Iraq and beyond, he pulled no punches.

China-Vietnam Dispute in the South China Sea

Tensions have risen in the South China Sea between Vietnam and China since early May 2014, when the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation deployed the drilling rig Hai Yang Shi You 981 (HYSY 981) in waters claimed by both countries. The oil rig is located about 20 miles from the China-controlled Paracel Islands, which China calls the Xisha Islands. Vietnam is also claiming sovereignty over these islands, which it calls the Hoang Sa Archipelago.

Perpetuation of Impunity in Syria

Russia and China vetoed a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution on May 22nd which would have referred the widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Syria to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Climate Change Fundamentalists

Climate change fundamentalists are predicting an apocalypse. Human depredation in the form of unbridled materialism is the cause. Any dissent from the fundamentalists’ doomsday prophesies if their radical prescriptions to save humanity and Mother Earth are not followed is regarded as heresy.

UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Quits in Frustration

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced on May 13th that he regretfully accepted the resignation of Lakhdar Brahimi, the Joint United Nations-League of Arab States Special Representative for Syria.

UN Middle East Envoy Spins Hamas-Fatah “Unity” Agreement

According to Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the so-called reconciliation deal reached by rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to form a "unity" government in the coming weeks may be a good development that is consistent with continued peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Iran Calls the Kettle Black

The Iranian regime is very upset that the United States has decided to refuse to issue a visa for its newly appointed permanent representative to the United Nations, Hamid Aboutalebi. The same country that violated its own treaty obligations as a host country to the U.S. embassy and its diplomats in 1979, by virtue of the embassy seizure and hostage taking it still celebrates to this day, claims that the United States, as the host country for the UN headquarters, is violating the terms of its agreement with the United Nations.

Russia Calls UN Human Rights Report on Ukraine Biased While Continuing its Aggression

Russian President Vladimir Putin shamelessly told United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during a recent phone call that he expected “clear condemnation” of what he characterized as the “anti-constitutional” operation by the Ukrainian central government in Kiev to push back against the armed thugs whom have illegally occupied government buildings in eastern Ukraine.

UN Double Standard on Iraq vs. Ukraine

The Russian Federation has annexed Crimea following its full-scale military occupation of the peninsula. Ukrainian soldiers are exiting and pro-Russian soldiers have assumed control over the last ships and bases once controlled by Ukraine's military. Russia is now massing thousands of forces just across the Ukraine border, posing a clear and present threat to the eastern portion of Ukraine, at the very least.

Another Wasted War of Words at UN Security Council Meeting on Ukraine

The United Nations Security Council met for the eighth time on the Ukraine crisis on March 19th as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was preparing to fly to Moscow and Kiev to personally urge direct dialogue between the Russian and Ukrainian government leaders to de-escalate tensions and try to resolve the crisis diplomatically.

Russia Vetoed the UN Charter

The United Nations Security Council voted Saturday March 15th on a draft resolution addressing the Ukrainian crisis. Thirteen members voted in favor. China abstained. Only Russia, not surprisingly, voted no, which killed the resolution because of Russia’s veto power.

The United Nations Chronicles Libya’s State of Anarchy

The United Nations Security Council heard today a report chronicling the virtual state of anarchy that exists presently in Libya. President Obama's "lead from behind" intervention in Libya to topple the Gaddafi regime has left behind a far more dangerous situation.

UN Envoy Threatened by Unidentified Armed Men in Crimea

United Nations Senior Advisor Robert Serry, whom Secretary General Ban Ki-moon dispatched to Ukraine to conduct a fact-finding mission, was forced to cut short his visit to Crimea because of fears for his personal safety.

Japan’s Troublesome Move Back to its More Aggressive Nationalist Past

The Japanese government is doubling down on its shameful campaign of historical revisionism. Last December, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japanese war criminals among other military leaders of the past. He did not apologize to the victims of Japanese colonialism and aggression that only ended with Japan’s defeat in World War II. Now Japan’s chief cabinet secretary has announced that Japan will revisit one of its rare post World War II apologies – its apology two decades ago to the hundreds of thousands of women forced into prostitution in Japanese wartime military brothels. The chief cabinet secretary announced a review of the historical evidence that had been relied upon in crafting the apology, known as the Kono Statement.

United Nations Calls for De-Escalation of Tensions in Ukraine Go Unheeded

Tensions mounted this past weekend over the crisis in Ukraine as thousands of armed Russian soldiers, often wearing masks and uniforms without any national insignia, reportedly surrounded the regional parliament building and other government facilities in the Crimean capital city of Simferopol.

UN Security Council Moves a Small Step Forward on the Humanitarian Crisis in Syria

New York, New York--The United Nations Security Council Saturday unanimously approved a resolution regarding the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Resolution 2139 demanded, among other things, "that all parties, in particular the Syrian authorities, promptly allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for UN humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners, including across conflict lines and across borders in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches people in need through the most direct routes."