Image by Getty Images

Leaders of several Jewish organizations met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday to express concerns about recent actions and comments made by U.N. officials.

The meeting took place on Wednesday morning at the U.N. and included representatives from several major Jewish organizations, including the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Anti-Defamation League, B’nai Brith and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

According to participants in the meeting, the organizational leaders raised several issues, including the recently announced U.N. Human Rights Council investigation into Israel’s conduct in the fighting in Gaza, which the communal leaders argued had been framed in a biased fashion against Israel, and the appointment of Canadian legal academic William Schabas to the probe given his past criticisms of Israel and its leaders. The Jewish leaders also objected to critical statements made about Israel by officials with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency and expressed concern about UNRWA facilities in Gaza being used to store rockets.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The Jewish officials also objected to Moon’s recent statement accusing Israeli of committing a “criminal act” in shelling a U.N. school.

According to the participants, Moon listened respectfully and took notes but offered no endorsement of their objections and promised no specific action.

“The secretary general reiterated that he fully understands Israel’s legitimate security concerns but also stressed the need to show restraint in their actions in Gaza so as to avoid civilian casualties,” said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, according to a report by the Associated Press.

“It’s always important when someone like the secretary general is willing to listen, to meet and to take the time to hear critique,” said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. “Even when people say you’re wrong, if they’ve listened and heard you — and there’s no question in my mind that the secretary general listened — it will have an impact in the future.”

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount