Category: United Nations
united-nations
Video: Oxford Union Debate Against Military Intervention to Promote Democracy
This House Would Fight for Democracy, Liberty & the Rule of Law Abroad, April 8, 2023 [11 mins., Prof. Stephen Zunes’ impassioned argument against John Bolton.]
Democratic Platform Defies International Law on the Middle East
Truthout August 29, 2024Despite indications Harris will have a better foreign policy than Biden, the Democratic Party’s platform’s segment on the Middle East — written primarily by Biden’s team — is very disappointing…
Is the UN Ready for a Second Trump Presidency?
Inter Press Service August 29, 2024:This article, which examines the dangers to the United Nations system should Trump return to office, quotes Dr. Zunes:Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and Director of International Studies at the University of San Francisco, who…
Will Kamala Break With Joe on Israel?
The Progressive, July 26, 2024: While her Senate record was hawkish, Harris has signaled she’d make justice for Palestinians a higher priority than Biden… [source]
A Move to Out-Maneuver the US Veto to admit the State of Palestine as a UN member
UNITED NATIONS, Jun 21, 2024 (IPS) Inter Press Service, by Thalif Deen, quoting Dr. Stephen Zunes: “It has been U.S. policy since 1990 to withdraw funding from any United Nations agency which grants Palestine member status…’” [source]
Gaza War Webinar: Escalating Famine and Genocide. Arab Organization for Human Rights-UK
Dr. Zunes speaks for the first seven minutes on U.S. policy then briefly again at the 1:11:30 mark [source]
Interviews: Middle East,
KPFA Oct. 2023-July 2024
Twelve more interviews on KPFA Evening News aired Sundays on KPFA-FM and Pacifica Radio Network affiliated stations October 7, 2023 through July 2024
US rejection of UN Membership for Palestine Betrays Claimed Two-State Position
Common Dreams April 27, 2024: Unlike most governments that support a two-state solution, the United States only recognizes Israel, not Palestine. [source]
Biden Claims to Support a Two-State Solution but his Policies Say Otherwise
Truthout April 17, 2024: Recent initiatives by the Palestinian government to revive their application for UN membership are testing the U.S. claim it supports a “two-state solution” [source]
Russia and US Abuse UN Veto Power
Inter Press Service February 27, 2024: How both Russia and the United States abuse their veto power at the United Nations (Dr. Stephen Zunes is quoted midway). Russia vs Ukraine and Israel vs Hamas—have exposed once again the stark reality…
Amnesty International Report and U.S. Reaction
Parallaxviews podcast, Feb. 8, 2022. Zunes analysis of the recent Amnesty International report (begins at 1:29:00; also at Amnesty.org) arguing Israel is in engaging in the practice of apartheid against Palestinians, especially in the Occupied Territories. Dr. Zunes will also…
Trump’s deal on Morocco’s Western Sahara annexation risks more global conflict
Last week, President Trump formally recognized Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara as part of a deal to get Morocco to normalize relations with Israel. But Morocco’s claim on Western Sahara is rejected by the United Nations, the World Court, the African Union and a broad consensus of international legal scholars that consider the region a non-self-governing territory that must be allowed an act of self-determination. This is why no country had formally recognized Morocco’s takeover — until now.
The East Timor Model Offers a Way out for Western Sahara and Morocco
it’s not often that Western Sahara makes international headlines, but in mid November it did: Nov. 14 marked the tragic—if unsurprising—breakup of a tenuous, 29-year cease-fire in Western Sahara between the occupying Moroccan
government and pro-independence fighters. The outbreak of violence is concerning not only because it flew in the face of nearly three decades of relative stasis, but also because Western governments’ reflexive response to the resurgent conflict may be to upend—and thereby hamper and delegitimize for perpetuity—more than 75 years of established international legal principles. It is imperative that the global community realize that, in both Western Sahara and Morocco, the path forward lies in adhering to international law, not overriding it.
Stephen Zunes’ Testimony before the UN conference on decolonization
My interest in the dispute over Western Sahara is based not simply upon my belief in justice for that country’s people, but its implications in regard to international law and the principles upon which the United Nations organization is founded. These include the right of self-determination by non-self-governing territories and the inadmissibility of any country expanding its territory by force. Since I am not from Western Sahara, I have no stake as to whether the people of that country choose integration with Morocco, independence, or some sort of autonomy within the Moroccan kingdom. However, as a non-self-governing territory, they must have the right to make that choice.
Morocco continues occupation of Western Sahara, in defiance of UN
As Morocco continues to defy the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and much of the international community in its continued occupation of Western Sahara, the United States continues supporting that autocratic government.
Africa’s Last Colony: Western Saharan Independence Movement Mourns Loss of Polisario Front Leader
President Abdelaziz was not a defining figure in the revolution. I mean, he was not the equivalent of Ho Chi Minh or Fidel Castro or Mao Zedong. The Polisario has traditionally practiced more of a collective leadership. At the same time, he played a very important role in terms of holding the movement together through a long and arduous struggle. Unlike many liberation struggles, it did not split into factions. They were able to keep a cohesive unit, both during the armed struggle against Morocco and subsequently in the diplomatic efforts to win recognition of so many countries, to keep the issue, if not on the front pages here in the United States, at least in the United Nations and various regional organizations. And we’re seeing the beginnings of an international solidarity movement, as well.
Obama administration undermines UN disarmament efforts
Though the United States may have taken the lead in the international diplomatic initiative against Iran’s nuclear program, the Obama administration has also taken the lead in undermining the United Nations’ efforts to promote nuclear arms control and disarmament elsewhere.
Interview: Commentary on the OPCW and the Nobel Peace Prize
FSN Reports
A five-minute radio interview on FSN Reports about the OPCW winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Zunes’ section begins just before the 13:00 mark
Interview: Chemical Weapons Watchdog Wins Nobel Peace Prize as U.S. Opposes Calls for WMD-Free Middle East (Video)
Democracy Now!
As the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons wins the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize, we look at international efforts to rid Syria and other countries — including the United States — of chemical weapons.