Dear Phillip,
Good news: Thanks to a firestorm sparked by UN Watch, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon — after initially refusing to act — has finally accepted our demand and condemned UN Palestine expert Richard Falk for justifying the Boston terrorist attack as a form of “resistance” to the sins of America and Israel. As a result, UN Watch is now under attack.
Here’s how it all happened.
Last week: Richard Falk — whom we got expelled from the group Human Rights Watch in December, but still serves on the tyrant-controlled UN Human Rights Council — published an article pinning the blame for the Boston bombings on “the American global domination project.”
It got worse: “[A]s long as Tel Aviv has the compliant ear of the American political establishment,” wrote Falk, “those who wish for peace and justice in the world should not rest easy.”
Here was a top UN official telling Boston’s victims that they got what they deserved, and that America and Israel were to blame. Yet the UN was silent. The world was silent.
Monday: UN Watch broke the silence. In a detailed letter to UN chief Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, we exposed Falk’s despicable remarks; identified its ignominious messages; and demanded action.
UN Watch circulated the story to thousands of journalists worldwide, launched a barrage of press releases, statements, and blog posts, and posted the facts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman quickly responded: “The Secretary-General did not appoint him and is not responsible for his views.” The UN was refusing to act.
Tuesday: UN Watch ramped up the campaign. We slammed Mr. Ban’s silence, noting the UN chief had condemned an unheard-of figure in the US who insulted Islam, but refused to do the same when a major figure of his own organization insulted America.
Reporters at the UN pressed for comment. Again, Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman refused, saying, “Richard Falk speaks independently… he is free to say what he wants to say.” The UN was doubling down.
By now, however, UN Watch’s campaign began bearing fruit. Stories appeared in Jewish newspapers and blogs worldwide, in Canada’s National Post, Italy’s ANSA news agency, in Fox News articles and TV debates, and in a Wall Street Journal column entitled “What the Falk?”
At 3:00 pm, the U.S. Mission publicly condemned Falk’s “provocative and offensive” remarks, and the “absurdity” of his service as a UN human rights expert. “Someone who spews such vitriol has no place at the UN,” added Ambassador Rice, in a Twitter post quickly endorsed by former Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio. The story spread further, reported by top news site Politico, Nederlands Dagblad, the Kuwait News Agency, and many others.
Wednesday:Faced with mounting pressure, the United Nations finally reversed course.At 12:07 pm, speaking at the daily press briefing, Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman announced: “The Secretary-General rejects Mr. Falk’s comments [which] “undermine the credibility and the work of the United Nations.”
- Now the story went viral, with global headlines from the Associated Press and Reuters: “U.N. chief scolds envoy for implying U.S. policy sparked Boston attack.”
- The British Mission blasted Falk’s “antisemitic” remarks, highlighting it was the third time they had to do so.
- Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird slammed Falk’s “mean-spirited, anti-Semitic rhetoric” and called for him to be kicked out of the UN. “The United Nations should be ashamed to even be associated with such an individual,” he added.
None of this happened until UN Watch took action.
Falk’s defenders know that, and today they began to rally, lashing out against us in lengthy manifestos. “UN Watch crafts the smoking gun,” screams a headline on Mondoweiss, a leading anti-Israel website. “UN Watch Better Watch Itself,” warns the headline of an essay by Jeremy Hammond, the publisher of Falk’s article.
Why are they so angry?
Because thanks to UN Watch pressure, their hero, the world body’s most vicious Israel-hater, was exposed, denounced, and shamed by world leaders—including by the head of the United Nations himself.
Phillip, I want to thank you for making the vital work of UN Watch possible.
Yours truly,
Hillel C. Neuer
Executive DirectorEmail sent to me from UN Watch
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