Why Do Israelis Hate the U.N.?

A friend of mine who works in Jerusalem for the UN was getting a new car.

“This time, I don't want it with ‘UN' markings,” he said, referring to the distinctive black letters on a creamy white background that graces the doors of every United Nations vehicle.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because if the vehicle has ‘UN' lettering, the car gets vandalized when I park it in Jewish neighborhoods,” he replied.

He went on to describe a colleague whose car had its windshield smashed five times in the past year, and had garbage dumped inside. This didn't happen in the mean streets of Jerusalem (which aren't that mean) but in Rehavia. It's one of the ritziest neighborhoods and only a few blocks down from the residences of the prime minister and the president. Rehavia's leafy lanes, as you might imagine, teem with cops. My friend had taken some Israeli friends to a classical music concert, and when they returned to the car, vandals had smeared gunk on the windshield and written “F..k the U.N.” One of my friend's Israeli guests turned to him, apologetically, and said, "I didn't know there were Israelis like that."

Let's face it: many Israelis hate the UN's presence here. They think the UN coddles the Palestinians and is anti-Semitic because dozens of human rights resolutions are raised against the Jewish state (inevitably, they are vetoed by the U.S.) , while those of far worse offenders, such as Sudan, are often ignored. So, a few angry Israelis get their revenge by smashing UN car windows.

The truth is, Israelis should be a tad more grateful. After all, the UN is saving Israel boodles of cash. Imagine if the UN pulled out of Gaza and the West Bank territories, and Israel had to fulfill its duties as occupier of conquered lands. That would mean feeding over a million Palestinian refugees every day, and running schools and hospitals, jobs which the UN is doing today. It wouldn't come cheap.

--by Tim McGirk/Jerusalem