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| Foto:Malaysia has announced it is preparing a draft resolution for the United Nations seeking the removal of Israel from the world body |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,In a move that has sent ripples through the international diplomatic community, Malaysia has announced it is preparing a draft resolution for the United Nations seeking the removal of Israel from the world body. This unprecedented initiative underscores the escalating tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza and represents a significant escalation in diplomatic efforts to hold Israel accountable for its military actions.
The expulsion of a member state from the United Nations is an exceedingly rare and complex process, governed by Article 6 of the UN Charter. It requires a recommendation from the UN Security Council followed by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly. The Security Council recommendation itself is subject to the veto power of its five permanent members (P5): the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom.
Given the United States' long-standing position as Israel's primary ally and security guarantor, a veto at the Security Council stage is considered a near-certainty. This makes the practical success of such a resolution virtually impossible under the current geopolitical configuration. However, Malaysia's strategy appears to be less about immediate procedural success and more about creating a powerful political and symbolic statement.
Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation and a consistent supporter of the Palestinian cause, has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been vocally critical of Israel's military operations in Gaza, labeling them as "atrocious" and a violation of international law. The move to draft an expulsion resolution is the logical culmination of this stance.
Malaysian officials have framed the effort as a moral imperative. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan stated that the continuous loss of Palestinian lives and the "systematic destruction" of Gaza necessitate a firm, structural response from the international community. Expulsion, in their view, is a consequence befitting what they describe as Israel's repeated flouting of UN resolutions and international norms.
The announcement has garnered mixed reactions globally. It has been warmly welcomed by many nations in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and by groups advocating for Palestinian rights, who see it as a long-overdue attempt to enforce consequences.
Conversely, Israel and its allies have condemned the move as a "hostile and pointless stunt." The Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, accused Malaysia of "advancing a hate-filled agenda" and abusing UN procedures. The United States and several European nations have reiterated their position that such actions are counterproductive to achieving a two-state solution and undermine the UN as a forum for dialogue.
Despite the unlikelihood of passage, the resolution carries significant implications:
1. Symbolic Pressure: It places Israel's diplomatic isolation and its conduct under a glaring spotlight, forcing a high-profile debate at the world's highest diplomatic forum.
2. Mobilizing the Global South: The effort could serve as a rallying point for countries critical of what they perceive as Western double standards and the UN's inability to enforce its own decisions regarding Palestine.
3. Testing Alliances: It will clearly delineate the lines of support and opposition within the General Assembly, providing a measurable gauge of global opinion beyond the usual non-binding condemnatory votes.
4. Precedent and Discourse: Even if unsuccessful, it introduces the concept of expulsion into mainstream discourse as a potential tool for accountability, potentially influencing future actions against other states in extreme situations.
Malaysia's decision to draft a resolution for Israel's expulsion from the United Nations is less a practical roadmap and more a diplomatic thunderclap. It is a dramatic expression of profound frustration with the status quo and the international community's failure to halt the war in Gaza. While the procedural hurdles make its adoption a distant prospect, the very act of proposing it shakes the diplomatic landscape, intensifies the debate on accountability, and challenges the limits of international institutional response to prolonged conflict. The upcoming diplomatic maneuvers surrounding this draft will be a critical test of global solidarity, power dynamics, and the very mechanisms of international law in an increasingly polarized world.