Against the Ceasefire: Is the United Nations Effective?
Analysts often assert that the United Nations does not serve as an effective organization in maintaining international peace. Perhaps the only productive organ of the UN remaining today is the Security Council. Indeed, it is the most powerful yet least democratic body in the organization. The UN Security Council is composed of 15 member-states, five of which are permanent members, often called the P5: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Not only is their presence permanent, but they also hold veto power over the council, including resolutions forwarded by the remaining 10 members, who are selected every two years. To pass a non-procedural resolution, nine out of 15 members should vote for or abstain from the resolution, granted no permanent member should veto the resolution. Ultimately, the stated goal of the council is to promote peace and security on the global stage.
Israel and Hamas in Gaza
Beginning in the 20th century, Britain seized control of Palestine composed of an Arab majority. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was signed by the United Kingdom as a pledge to establish a “national home” for Jewish people in Palestine. In 1957, the UN voted for Palestine to be split, creating a Jewish state, and making Jerusalem an international city. Jewish leaders then claimed Jerusalem as their capital, while declaring the creation of the State of Israel. In consequence, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced out of their homes, seeking refuge in Gaza and neighbouring countries like Jordan and Syria.
On October 7 2023, the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, attacked Israel near the Gaza Strip, resulting in 1,200 deaths. In response, 14,000 Palestinian lives were lost from Israeli attacks, as of November 15, 2023, at the time of the United States’ veto. Now, the fatalities in Gaza have reached 23,000, 70% of which are women and children.
Veto from the United States
On December 8, the United States blocked a resolution regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, with the United Kingdom abstaining. Though stirring controversy, this pattern has existed since 1976, when the US first vetoed the Palestinian question. By the end of 2023, the US vetoed 15 resolutions concerning the Middle Eastern state. Since the creation of the UN in 1945, Israel has never been given membership to the UN Security Council. Still, numerous resolutions were successfully thwarted by the US’ P5-exclusive power. For example, the US vetoed draft resolution S/19780 written on April 14, 1988 urging Israel to abide by the Geneva Convention and “to rescind orders to deport Palestinians”, and condemning “the opening of fire by the Israeli army, resulting in the killing and wounding of defenseless Palestinian civilians”.
In fact, the US and Israel have been close partners for 75 years because of their common interest for “democracy, economic prosperity, and regional security”, according to the US department of state. It has over the years given the Jewish state more than $260 billion in military and economic aid. But how did the US representative justify their veto specifically? The US deputy ambassador, Robert A. Wood told the council that the US failed to support this resolution as it “declined to include language condemning Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, an attack that killed over 1200 people, women, children, the elderly.” P5 members, therefore, defend their allies in decision-making processes. Wood also added that an immediate ceasefire is “unrealistic” and “at best temporary”.
If the only powerful body of the UN cannot call for a ceasefire, does that mean that the UN is not effective?
We gathered opinions from a few MariMUN delegates who have experience taking on the role of diplomats in UN simulations, thus involving themselves in research on the organization’s structure, history and functions. To begin, they point to the UN having conducted successful missions in the past. For example, the Montreal Protocol, signed by all member-states in 1987, successfully protected the ozone layer. Furthermore, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait was successfully stopped by the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM). On the other hand, peacekeeping missions have failed to prevent genocide, like the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. In addition, the UN failed to resolve the Bosnia-Herzegovina dissolution from Yugoslavia in 1992.
Generally, if one of the P5 members has in its national interest to invest on an issue, it is willing to bear the costs and diplomatic tension. During Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, for example, the US was keenly motivated to aid Kuwait because of the latter’s promising oil reserves. In contrast, concerning the Yugoslavia dissolution, no member-state seemingly saw a benefit to helping Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Problem of the UN Security Council
According to article 25 of the UN Charter, resolutions successfully adopted by the council are legally binding, meaning that members must unquestionably obey them. Such resolutions can even impose peace-enforcement operations using military force, a mechanism which can easily be exploited for nations’ respective personal gain.
Moreover, since one member state has the power to block a resolution even if all other members of the council are in favor of it, the principle of a majority rule is constitutionally transgressed. Indeed, according to Article 2, Chapter 2 of the UN Charter, all member-states should be treated with “sovereign equality”, implying that all countries should be treated equally, no matter their size, economic prosperity, and political influence. Yet, P5 members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — are evidently known to be amongst the most powerful nations of the 21st century, solidifying their raised seats in the UN Security Council. Altogether, since the most dominant states hold a privilege in decision-making processes — which can naturally be used to perpetuate their dominance — the council omits the principle of democratic procedure which would ideally reign in an egalitarian international organization.
Why Veto Power Was Given Historically
Before the United Nations was created, a similar organization, the League of Nations, was established by former US president Woodrow Wilson. After WW1, president Wilson sought to build an institution that could promote collective security. Sixty-three countries joined the organization. Surprisingly, a comprehensive plan initiated by an American president was refused by the US Senate, which at the time was isolationist, believing that their national interests were best served by avoiding external participation. The League of Nations therefore fell after the emergence of dictatorship in Europe, leading to WW2. After the deadliest war in human history, the United Nations was founded during the 1945 San Francisco conference, gathering 50 nations. To incentivize the US to join, the UN granted them veto power.
Say No to Hate
Let us be reminded that no matter what conflict is raging between countries, it is imperative that we separate a government and its decisions from its people. It is heartbreaking to see people hate one another for actions committed thousands of miles away. In fact, rising hate crimes have been recorded on both Jews and Palestinians. At Stanford, for example, Jewish students were attacked and insulted. In Vermont, three Palestinian students were shot, one permanently paralyzed in his legs, as they were targeted for wearing keffiyehs, traditional Arab scarves.
Thank you to Alexander Laurin for guiding me as I write my article and MariMUN delegates who took their time to answer the survey.
Works Cited
“Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia and Zambia: draft resolution,” United Nations Security Council, April 14, 1988, https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N88/101/99/PDF/N8810199.pdf?OpenElement.
Chandelis, Duster. “Hate crimes explained: Could suspect who shot 3 Palestinian students be charged with a hate crime?,” CNN, November 29, 2023, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/29/us/hate-crime-explained-vermont-palestinian-shooting-reaj/index.html.
Getty Images, https://www.newarab.com/news/us-vetoes-security-council-resolution-gaza-ceasefire.
“Israel Gaza War: History of the conflict explained,” BBC, November 15, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396.
“Israel-Hamas war: UN security council to vote on ceasefire in Gaza,” Guardian News, December 8, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezLPN89oIUE&list=LL&index=3&t=3580s.
Rebekah Riess, “Stanford university police launch hate crime investigation after antisemitic drawing found on Jewish student’s dorm room door,” CNN, March 13, 2023, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/13/us/stanford-university-antisemitic-drawing-investigation/index.html.
“U.S. Relations with Israel,” U.S. Department of State, January 30, 2023, https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-israel-2/.
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“United Nations Charter,” United Nations, October 29, 1945, https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter.
