UN Employee Likens Israel To Nazis

A UN employee, Jean Ziegler, recently told a pro-Palestinian rally that conditions in Gaza are like a concentration camp, and compared Israel to the Nazis. The reaction from the UN has been mild, to say the least.

From today's UN press briefing:

Question: Stéphane, have you been asked about these comments by Jean Ziegler about Israel. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Spokesman: I have not been asked and I have not seen the comment. ...

Question: Apparently, this is something being reported in Le Courier in Switzerland that before a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Geneva on Tuesday, he called the Gaza Strip an “immense concentration camp” and went on to say similar things about Israel. And, apparently, people are writing the Secretary-General letters protesting this. So, if you could just find out if that’s been received and if there’s any comment coming out of here shortly.

Spokesman: Sure.

[The Spokesman later announced that Jean Ziegler is an independent expert, who reports to the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food. His views are his own, not those of the United Nations. The United Nations believes any comparison between conditions in Gaza and those of Nazi concentration camps is irresponsible. And such a comparison does not reflect the views of the Secretary-General.]

"Irresponsible?" That means the UN regards what Ziegler said to possibly be true, but it probably would have been better for him not to say it. The UN press office parses each and every word and phrase before they are made public, so we can be sure that "irresponsible" was chosen over words like reprehensible, disgusting and false. The UN is as "irresponsible" as Ziegler.

And what difference does it make if Ziegler is a consultant, not an employee? Will the UN terminate his contract for this, or allow him to continue working, getting paid, and spouting off Anti-Semitic garbage?

The UN should apologize for not reacting more forcefully. Then it should act more forcefully, reprimanding or terminating Mr. Ziegler.