The United States and Israel have taken an antagonistic stance toward the United Nations (UN) and the rules-based international order (RBO) it represents. According to Elmasry, the UN’s primary role is to uphold global peace, prevent aggressive wars, and protect human rights—goals established in the aftermath of World War II to avoid repeating such catastrophic conflicts. However, Elmasry argues that the U.S. and Israel have increasingly undermined the organization and the principles it stands for, which may contribute to their own potential decline.
Elmasry notes that the UN was initially formed under U.S. leadership as a central part of the RBO to prevent future large-scale wars and genocides like the Holocaust. Yet, for decades, the U.S. and Israel have resisted UN authority, particularly when it conflicts with their political agendas. This resistance has weakened international law, disrupting peace and stability worldwide. Elmasry references the work of legal scholar Richard Falk, who argued that the U.S. consistently undermined the “Nuremberg promise,” a post-WWII commitment to apply justice standards universally, even to Allied powers. Falk observed that the U.S. often weakened international law when it conflicted with its own interests, further eroding the UN’s influence.
The U.S.’s track record, according to Elmasry, shows its disregard for the international system, especially through its use of veto power at the UN Security Council. Since 1972, when the U.S. first used its veto to shield Israel, it has blocked numerous resolutions critical of Israel, exercising this veto privilege 78 times, particularly in support of Israel. By contrast, other permanent Security Council members—Russia, China, the UK, and France—have collectively used their veto power 86 times over the same period, underscoring the unique frequency of the U.S.’s defense of Israel.
During the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, Elmasry notes, the U.S. has vetoed three ceasefire resolutions, allowing Israel to intensify its offensive against Gaza and the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In early 2024, Israel accused UNRWA of supporting terrorism, which led the U.S. to withdraw funding from the agency. Recently, Israel passed a bill banning UNRWA operations in Gaza and the West Bank, even as it reportedly seeks to label the agency as a terrorist organization. These actions mark a significant escalation in Israel’s longstanding conflict with UNRWA, which has been exacerbated by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Additionally, Israeli forces have bombed UN schools and, according to Elmasry, killed over 220 UN personnel, setting a tragic record for UN staff fatalities in a single conflict.
The article highlights symbolic acts reflecting Israel’s hostility toward the UN. For example, in March 2024, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan tore up the UN Charter to protest the UN General Assembly’s decision to grant certain rights to Palestine. In a subsequent UN address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the UN as a “swamp of antisemitic bile” and a “contemptuous farce.” Following this speech, Israel labeled UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “persona non grata” and accused him of supporting terrorists. Further, Israel recently launched attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, leading to condemnation from 40 countries. Notably, the U.S. refrained from endorsing this condemnation.
Elmasry also points out that the U.S. and Israel have repeatedly criticized and attempted to undermine the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s principal judicial body, especially as the ICJ considers a genocide case against Israel. He cites Noam Chomsky’s view that the U.S. and Israel behave as “rogue states” by resisting international laws and conventions. Historically, rogue states eventually face consequences, and Elmasry suggests that these nations’ continued defiance of the international order may accelerate their own decline.
The article concludes with a warning: the actions of the U.S. and Israel are diminishing the very global system that has upheld peace and protected their own interests. For the U.S., its global influence is already waning, and Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon could threaten its future stability. Analysts, including Israeli historian Ilan Pappe, argue that Israel’s aggressive policies may lead to its own collapse, especially given the damage these actions cause to its international standing.
Ultimately, Elmasry urges both nations to reconsider their hostility toward the UN and the RBO, which could provide stability and security that benefit them in the long term. Ignoring this could create an international power vacuum, increasing chaos and undermining the U.S. and Israel’s strategic goals. In essence, Elmasry believes that cooperation with the UN and adherence to international norms is essential not just for global peace but for the survival and success of the U.S. and Israel in an increasingly interconnected world.
