United Nations: The Origin of Jewish Mistrust

On May 14, 1948, the Arabs and Jews were fighting for control over the land that would become Israel. A United Nations plan had called for a two state solution, but one aspect of the land division was left unanswered: what to do with Jerusalem. Debates on that day produced a series of resolutions that were put forward at the General Assembly that would have placed Jerusalem under United Nations rule. Three such resolutions were proposed: first by Guatemala, then by Australia and finally by the United States. Each resolution was rejected, the Arab nations being emphatic that Jerusalem must not be under international control, but an Arab run city (despite its Jewish majority). The failure to reach aggreement meant that at 6:00 pm no government controlled Jerusalem (previously Britain had control). A representative of Iraq rose and cried out, "The game is up!" The United Nations had lost its right of succesion.

There would be no United Nations administration to prevent Arab countries from attacking the newly formed Jewish state. From here on there would only be a struggle for power between the Jews and Arabs in direct confrontation. Many Arabs found this much to be welcomed. Finishing what the Nazis had started would be an easy task ... at least they thought.

One Jewish obsever, Abba Eban, wrote of the UN's actions: "It was not a passive default, but an active relinquishing of responsibility in a critical hour. Israel would never forget the lesson. If the United Nations would not take responsibility in time of peril, by what right could it claim authority when the danger passed?"

The said truth is that in peace or war, Arabs and Jews have to work out their destiny of their land alone. No country or organization can do for them what they must do for themselves.