A Critical Analytical Study of Israel’s Membership in the United Nations

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to critically analyze the legal status of Israel's membership in the United Nations, especially after all its violations of the organization's charter, international law, and human rights. It also aimed to reveal reasons why Israel remained in the organization despite fulfilling all the conditions that allowed the organization to cancel its membership.

Methods: The study relied on the legal approach to find out the legal status of the membership in the UN based on the Charter of the UN as well as General International Law. On the other hand, the study used the analytical descriptive approach in order to reveal the reasons that prevented the UN from withdrawing Israel's membership.

Results: The study concluded that although Israel persists in its flagrant violations of the charter of the UN and International Law and although it repudiates the promises it made in implementing Resolutions 181 and 194, the organization was unable to withdraw its membership. This was due to the depth of the American-Israeli relations that restricted the UN Security Council resolutions. 

Conclusions: Israel has got away with sanctions for decades due to its close relations with the United States which always vetoes any decision that stands against Israel’s interest. Consequently, Israel has deepened its violations of human rights and international law. Not to mention its membership in the organization has never even been put into question. Unless the international community pushes toward amending the Charter of the United Nations so that the organization becomes more effective in ceasing flagrant violations of international law and human rights, Israel will increse its violations of the Palestinians’ rights.