Photography by Nathaniel St. Clair

The biblical book of Job recounts a series of disasters that relentlessly strike the main character, Job, who loses his prosperity, his home, his health and his children. Finally, an anguished Job curses his own existence as well as the god who created him. Questions of evil, justice, and divine wisdom are explored, and while the Book of Job defers divine wisdom to God, it recognizes that the work to be done here on earth is ours.

Many interpretations of the story exist, and more than one version circulated throughout the ancient Near East. One version ends with Job confessing repentance. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and therefore I repent in dust and ashes. »

The Latin root of the word ‘repent’ East think – think. “Repent” suggests an effort to rethink.

Job’s surprising repentance came to mind as calls grow in 2024 for the United Nations to rethink its relationship with Israel as a member state. Increasingly, civil society groups are pressuring permanent missions to the UN to exclude Israel from its status as a voting member of the General Assembly.

To paraphrase Pankraj Mishra, while writing for the New York Review of Books, a The world watched in disbelief as the United States supplied Israel with weapons enabling a wave of mass murders across the Middle East.

Palestinians in the West Bank recently urged all organizations demanding that the UN comply with the International Criminal Court’s July 2024 decision to sign a letter available at World BEYOND War which urges member states of the United Nations General Assembly to fulfill their duties.

Following up on the potential of this letter, a new coalition, “Global solidarity for peace in Palestine » sent a letter to His Excellency Mr. Philemon Yang, President of the United Nations General Assembly requesting him to convene an emergency meeting of the General Assembly to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, establish and secure humanitarian aid corridors and ensure the complete withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Palestinian territory.

The letter further asks:

+ The relaunch of the United Nations Committee Against Apartheid to combat systemic violations of international law and human rights in the OPT.

+ Consideration of targeted boycotts, sanctions and divestments, particularly against illegal operations in the OPT.

+ The establishment of an arms embargo against Israel.

+ Exploring Israel’s suspension from the General Assembly until it complies with international law.

To further support these efforts, the letter calls for the establishment of an unarmed United Nations peacekeeping mission in the occupied Palestinian territories under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to ensure the safety and dignity of all civilians.

In some ways, Israel has already strayed from the standards upheld by the UN Charter by systematically flouting UN treaties, resolutions and advisory opinions. We must not forget that Israel refuses to recognize its possession of nuclear weapons before the UN.

I was surprised, during an initial planning call with Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, when one of them spoke about the evacuation he and his family were facing that day and declared: “We are faced with the final solution. Israel imposes the final solution on us.” Other participants described shuddering during the bombings, day and night.

Journalist Mehdi Hasan, writing in the Guardian, he explains with emotion how absurd it is that the UN General Assembly agrees to make Israel a UN member country.

Israel’s abusive rejection of the very idea of ​​the United Nations, its increasing and murderous violation of countless international norms, its repeated and murderous attacks on UN sanctuaries and peacekeeping forces justify its expulsion. Hasan reminds us that Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the United Nations shredded the UN charter while standing at the podium of the General Assembly. This is the Charter which declares that the mission of the UN is to eradicate the scourge of war for future generations.
It is time for the clouds to part over the burning lands of Western Asia – for the suffering there to be comforted and their merciless accusers to be rebuked by the united voice of humanity, by the agent who created Israel and can, when he wishes, “let justice to roll like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. The work here is ours and so let our United Nations demand, not beg, humanity from Israel and its imperial sponsor, the United States.