Palestinian Manipulation of International Institutions Threatens Peace Process

The long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has cycled through phases of violence, terror, armed confrontations, and periodic peace-making efforts. Behind these cycles lies a complex backdrop of conflicting historical and legal claims to territory, religious fanaticism, competing sovereignty rights, and external influences from regional and international players.

A significant factor complicating this equation is the role of the international community and its institutions. The Middle East, home to three monotheistic religions, has historically captured global attention, with many nations feeling they have legitimate interest in the region. This widespread international involvement makes the conflict particularly susceptible to manipulation by parties seeking to leverage global opinion and influence.

Palestinian leadership has engaged in a concerted effort to manipulate international institutions to advance their narrative, according to experts who have studied this phenomenon. This manipulation extends across political, legal, economic, and religious spheres, with the aim of delegitimizing Israel in the eyes of the global community.

Professor Robbie Sabel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem points to the distortion of international law concepts as part of Palestinian “lawfare” against Israel. He cites examples where long-established legal terms such as “occupation,” “right of return,” and “proportionality” are selectively applied or misinterpreted only where Israel is concerned, potentially undermining the integrity of international law itself.

In national courts, Dr. Rephael Ben-Ari documents how Palestinians and allied groups have abused the concept of universal jurisdiction since the late 1990s. Several Western countries that enabled their courts to hear war crimes claims against foreign officials found their legal systems flooded with politically motivated cases against Israeli officials. This ultimately led to legislative reforms in countries like Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom to prevent such misuse of their judicial systems.

The United Nations and its specialized agencies have become primary targets for this manipulation. Attorney Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, analyzes how bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council, WHO, ILO, and UNESCO systematically single out Israel in violation of their founding principles. This politicization undermines the credibility of these organizations and the UN system as a whole.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have also been weaponized in this political campaign, according to Professor Gerald Steinberg, President of NGO Monitor. He traces how European governments, the EU, the US, and Australia unwittingly fund politically-motivated NGOs that work to delegitimize Israel. Major human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been particularly influential in this campaign.

Even international justice mechanisms have been targeted. Professor Eugene Kontorovich explains how Palestinian diplomatic efforts have attempted to turn the International Criminal Court into both a negotiation tool and a weapon against Israel, risking the court’s credibility and effectiveness.

Ambassador Dr. Dore Gold details the notorious case of the UN’s Goldstone Report on the Gaza conflict, where Hamas manipulated the fact-finding mission through selective information and distorted facts, resulting in a deeply flawed report that was later partially retracted by Judge Goldstone himself.

Religious manipulation features prominently in this strategy as well. Ms. Sinem Tezyapar documents how extremist Islamic bodies distort fundamental Islamic precepts to demonize Israel and Jews, while Dr. Dexter Van Zile shows how Palestinian Christian activists manipulate Western church organizations through documents like the “Kairos Palestine Document” to undermine support for Israel among Christian communities.

Even humanitarian organizations have been affected. Dr. Ben-Ari examines how UNRWA has evolved beyond its humanitarian mandate to become a political lobbying organization that inflates refugee numbers and fosters an atmosphere of hatred through its educational activities.

Media manipulation completes this comprehensive strategy. Philippe Assouline reveals how Palestinian propaganda efforts manufacture public compassion through staged media events, strategic use of children for emotional impact, and control over journalists and correspondents.

The systematic nature of these manipulation efforts raises serious questions about the viability of peace negotiations. International mediators and stakeholders in the peace process must recognize these tactics and confront them directly if genuine progress toward resolution is to be achieved.