U.S. Involvement

1. Didn't the United Nations create the state of Israel? Why didn't it create a State of Palestine too? Why doesnt't it now?
The United Nations, given the region of Palestine by the British after WWII, partitioned 55% of the land to create a Jewish nation. The other 45% was set aside to later become a free Palestinian state. The Palestinian state never came into existence, partly because of the Palestinians' inability to form the state, and partly because of the six-day war. As a result of the outcome of the six-day war, Israel was recognized as an independent nation, getting all the attention in the UN, and the Palestinians (many had fled during the war and had become refugees) were effectively forgotten.

2. Why is Israel so often criticized in the UN? Aren't other countries just as guilty of human rights violations?
Israel is criticized in the UN for its alleged abuse of the human rights of the Palestinians. While other countries violate the rights of their own people, Israel violates the rights of a people protected by the Geneva convention as refugees. Many in the UN say that Israel violates international law with its treatment of the Palestinians, many of whom are under military occupation.

3. What is the role of the UN in the Middle East these days? Why isn't the UN in charge of the overall peace process?
The UN does not play much of a role in the Middle East today. The United States, undoubtably the most powerful nation in the UN, had constantly kept the UN out of the loop when it comes to Israel. Heeding the demands of the Israelis, the United States has ruled UN intervention obsolete and has kept it from doing anything in the Middle East. The U.S. is one of the five permanent members of the security council and has veto power, which it constantly uses in issues involving the condemnation of Israel. The UN is not in charge of the peace process because the United States has kept it out of issues concerning Israel.