UN Official Calling to Boycott Firms Doing Business with Israel Chided for Openly Anti-Semitic Views
Latest update: October 29th, 2012
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U.N. Special Rapporteur and amateur anti-Semite Richard Falk
U.N. Special Rapporteur Richard Falk called on the member nations of the General Assembly to boycott companies that do business with Israel.
“Rapporteur” is a French-derived word for an investigator who reports to a deliberative body. The Special Rapporteur is a title given to individuals working on behalf of the United Nations within the scope of “Special Procedures” mechanisms, with a specific mandate from the United Nations Human Rights Council—either a country mandate or a thematic mandate.
Richard Anderson Falk, 82, is an American professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University and a renowned the author.
“My main recommendation is that the businesses highlighted in the report – as well as the many other businesses that are profiting from the Israeli settlement enterprise – should be boycotted until they bring their operations into line with international human rights and humanitarian law and standards,” Falk said in a statement Thursday after he presented his “Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories since 1967″ to the U.N. General Assembly.
The report highlighted the activities of companies he said are involved in the establishment and maintenance of the Israeli settlements. He cited Caterpillar Inc., Hewlett Packard and Motorola in the United States; Ahava, Elbit Systems and Mehadrin of Israel; and the Volvo Group and Assa Abloy of Sweden, along with Veolia Environment of France, G4S of the United Kingdom, the Dexia Group of Belgium, the Riwal Holding Group of the Netherlands and Cemex of Mexico.
Earlier this week, the British government protested to the U.N. the “anti-Semitic” remarks made by Falk, and urged the U.S., France, Germany and other democracies to do the same. It turned out that Richard Falk had collectively accused “the organized Jewish community” of responsibility for war crimes, and provided the cover endorsement of a virulently anti-Semitic book, “The Wandering Who,” which has been condemned as racist by Electronic Intifada founder Ali Abunimah and other Arab activists.
“For the U.N. human rights system to be credible in the fight against racism, its own high representatives must not be allowed to incite hatred and racial discrimination with impunity,” said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer.
In “The Rise and Fall of Leftist Radicalism in America,” Edward Walter has this to say about Richard Falk:
“In an act of great irony, Princeton legal theirist Richard Falk, whose avowed purpose was to advance the incorporation of human rights into political institutions, supported the rightist Islamic revolution. … Turning to Iran, Falk called the Islamic Revolution an ‘extraordinary unarmed popular uprising against an extreme form of tyranny.’ … Falk asserted that summary trials and summary executions had to be considered in a regional and cultural context where human rights violations were widespread and severe.”
On Wednesday, the Anti-Defamation League called on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to distance his office from the report, saying its boycott call is one of the hallmarks of the international boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign to pressure companies doing business with Israel.
On the eve of a presentation to the United Nations of a misleading report targeting companies doing business with Israel, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to rescind his preliminary endorsement of the report and to distance his office from the report’s biased author, U.N. Special Rapporteur Richard Falk.
ADL lambasted the report, titled “Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories since 1967″ and due to be presented tomorrow to the General Assembly, as “tainted from the start in its message and by its messenger.”
“While the issue of human rights violations experienced by Palestinians is a legitimate area of concern and inquiry, Richard Falk has repeatedly abused his position as special rapporteur to unleash unrestrained hatred and disdain for Israel,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “This malevolence permeates his official reports and, at times, his personal statements, which include the use of anti-Semitic imagery and comparisons of Israeli actions to those of the Nazis.”
As Special Rapporteur, Falk has made it his mission to single out Israel as a human rights violator while using the imprimatur of the U.N. to advance a biased agenda fueled by anti-Israel animus which erodes the credibility of the U.N.
In a letter to Secretary-General Ban, ADL condemned Mr. Falk’s latest report for focusing on private corporations doing business in Israel – one of the hallmarks of the international boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign to pressure companies doing business with Israel. ADL strongly urged Mr. Ban to withdraw his transmittal of Mr. Falk’s report to the General Assembly’s Third Committee and to publicly distance himself from Falk’s “biased and offensive behavior.”
“The United Nations should not be complicit in this wholly unjustified effort to single out Israel,” Mr. Foxman wrote in a sharply worded letter to Mr. Ban on the eve of the session devoted to Mr. Falk’s report. “We believe you should have prevented the Secretariat from being a party to Mr. Falk’s anti-Israel agenda. Mr. Falk’s entire tenure as Special Rapporteur has served to undermine the credibility of the institution of the United Nations.”
In 2008 ADL strenuously objected to Mr. Falk’s appointment as Special Rapporteur and, more recently, lodged a complaint with the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights over his use of Nazi comparisons to castigate the Jewish state.
JTA, UN Watch and ADL content was used in this article.
“My main recommendation is that the businesses highlighted in the report – as well as the many other businesses that are profiting from the Israeli settlement enterprise – should be boycotted until they bring their operations into line with international human rights and humanitarian law and standards,” Falk said Thursday. But, earlier this week, the British government protested to the U.N. the “anti-Semitic” remarks made by Falk
tell a friendAbout the Author: JewishPress.com Senior Internet Editor Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published two fun books: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.
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The whole world is blowing apart with hate.This people with sick mind and hatred has nothing better to do but to spread hate against Isreal for defending it self against this sic k radical hate mongers.
This Richard Falk is no different from the Nazis who told Germans to boycott Jewish businesses.
Ugly, immoral, despicable, dirty old man…the so-called Israeli settlements provides a livelihood to thousands of Fakestinians which the PA is unable to provide..if he were really so concerned about "human rights" he would go after the real human right abusers in the world (3/4 of all member states in that useless UN) and every single one of Arab countries for that matter.
I was with you until your completely unnecessary "Fakestinian" nonsense.
Charlie Hall It's doesn't count if you declare to the world that you are Palestinians in 1964 if you didin't feel that way in 1948. Prior to 1948, if you called yourself a Palestinian, you were a Jew. Arabs were Arabs. They came from many different countries, like the Jews, but did not necessarily see themselves as a national entity called Palestinians. That came, as I said, in 1964.
What's the problem with "Fakestinians" there was after all never a sovereign, known country called Palestine nor any unic, specific ethnic group of people called Palestinians for that matter…politically motivated deceit which has become "reality" overnight on virtually no basis whatsoever…
There were people called "Palestinians" before there were people called "Israelis". You really don't want to go in this direction! It is non-productive at best, and at worst feeds our enemies who deny Israel's right to exist.
Charlie Hall – Whether you cal them Palistianians or Israelis and which group was called that first is not the issue. I have always been und the impression that the real home of the Palistians is where Jordan is now located. While they are now called Israelis they were Hebrews long before that.
I am completelyu with you on Jews should not argue amongst themselves becasue it does show weaknss to our "enemies"
Michael Dar – I agree with both you and Charlie. see my response to Charlie right above this. We need to stop arguing amongst ourselves a show a united front agains our enemies!
You are right–and Charlie Hall is typically wrong!
What people were called "Palestinians"..before the Israelis..I hope you don't meant the Cananites or the Philistines ancient peoples who disappeared from history thousands of years ago! You have it all wrong..it is our enemies who precisely deny and challenge our historic, moral, spiritual and indeed unic legal rights on the land by inventing and trying to replace them by a fraudulent, fabricated, false and fake narrative. Challenge me on that..you might learn a few things!
Charlie Hall ..and by the way you did not discuss my previous post..but only came out with your: "Palestinians before etc. without any prove, historic reference or any further explanation..
Charlie, are you and your family enjoying the Eid al-Adha holiday ? As there was a cease fire declared in Syria which failed, maybe you could declare a cease fire against the Jews for your Muslim holiday?
This man is dispicable!
He has no place in education!
Perhaps it would be best if Princeton were to take away his titles and release him from their employ!
Boycotts work both ways. If a company is going to boycott Israel, then perhaps people hould boycott that compny.
A company like HP which is in deep enough trouble to begin with while they undergo their transformation would be further hurt if people stoped using them as a supplier.
This man is despicable–and Americans should boycott any company who boycotts Israel!
Richard Falk must be the star pupil of Rabbis for Obama.
Those Rabbis never tire of boot licking the Iranian regime and counting the days of Israel's destruction.
Why are you going to vote for Obama?
Jean Pierre Katz, I am voting for President Obama for many reason.
He has kept America safe. He has ended one war and has given a final date to end a second war (Please note that the war he ended was totally unnecessary and the second war accomplished it's sole purpose which was to get bin laden, now that he is gone, we should get out)
I am voting for President Obama brcause willard and all the other repubs and tea party members are to put it simply LIARS and refuse to accept responsibility and have treated President Obama worse than any person should be treated. They disrespected the Office of the President and this I cannot accept.
I am voting for President Obama because he represent my values. He is a strong advocate for affordable healtcare for ALL American's and not just the wealthy. There are indeed things that rich people can (and maybe should have,) but one of those is not basic health care. Anyone can get an illness, but to be deprived of a visit to a doctor because you are poor should not happen.
I am voting for President Obama be cause he is defending a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body. The thought of some politician forcing a woman to got through a invasive vaginal probe against doctor's orders is a deisgrace.
I am voting for President Obama because despite the massive movement by repubs and the tea party to stone wall every single thing President Obama has tried to due to improve things, things have gotten better.
I am voting for President Obama because truth and integrity are very important to me and there is not one single repub or tea party person who has told the truth (litterally about) anything if they tink it will reflect badly on President Obmam.
I am voting for President Obama despite many people on this site damning him to hell for not supporting Israel when in fact he is a strong supporter of Israel. Many people on this sight have mistakenly thought that willard will protect and "nuke" Iran and that President Obama will. These people are wrong! Willard will not bomb Iran but President Obama has demonstrated over and over agin he is prepared to fight when he has to. President Obama's postiton is no different than any other U.S. President when it comes to defending Israel except he is probably a little more truthful about his love of Israel. Again, he had appointed more Jews to senior possitions in the government than any other president, he has more top white house staffers who are Jewish, He has appointed more cabinet members who are Jewish, including his 2 chiefws of staff which is the second most powerful position in the white house and was is orthodox! He is also the first U.S. President to have a passover sedar in the white house, and finally the heads of the Chicago group that worked with him to be elected to the Illinois state house, the U.S. Senate and finnaly to the Presidency are Jewish. You cannot surrond yourself with so many Jewish people and take their advice and "hate" Israel! On the contrary he does indeed Love Israel and will NEVER let anything happen to it on his watch!
Did you have a night mare and can not except the truth? The second world war ended in 1945.Without President Obamas help.Wake up the world is much more worst off including the United States than it was ever before.
Businesses and individuals who participate in boycotts of Israel a liable to civil and criminal penalties in the US.
http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/antiboycottcompliance.htm
Is the boycott law constitutional after the Obamacare decision? Essentially the government is fining companies for NOT doing business with a country. And the fine is clearly not a tax.
And Charlie, let me take a wild guess by saying that Richard Falk is most certainly voting for your ole pal President Obama….. what do you think?!?! -pk
Individuals? Really? If I decide not to buy Israeli products I'm liable to civil and criminal penalties?
Since when Charlie? The Park Slope food-co-op had to fight off in a vote a attempt by leftist to boycott imports from Israel
Shmuel Stephen Rockwerk Read the link.
Nephtuli Taubenfeld I always thought that smart people went to Yashiva University! Imagine my dismay when I find out they allow stupid people to study there! The laws that were passed in 1976 and 1977 were aimed a companies that would not trade with Israel because they would honor a boycott.
Your ignorance in trying to put some sort of blam on President Obama and trying to turn around the entire theme of the article and Charlie Hall's response shows me enough that you are foolish and now everyone knows it!
Nephtuli Taubenfeld "Is the boycott law constitutional after the Obamacare decision? "
Probably yes as it involves foreign policy. Individuals, businesses, and state and local governments are not permitted to have foreign policies.
Philip Kafka – you are out and out ignorat to try and blame President Obama for everything! The President honors and abides by the laws of 1976 and 1977 making it against U.S. law to participate in Boycotts against Israel.
I hope you are not too stupid to understand that willard is standing behind President Obama's stance on Israel 100%!
Read Jeffrey Goldberg's article in today's Jewish Week!
Larry Lennhoff According to the laws of 1976 and 1977 you would be liable!
"I always thought that smart people went to Yashiva University! Imagine my dismay when I find out they allow stupid people to study there! " This is a complete non-sequitor.
From the link:
"Who Is Covered by the Laws?
The antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) apply to the activities of U.S. persons in the interstate or foreign commerce of the United States. The term "U.S. person" includes all individuals, corporations and unincorporated associations resident in the United States, including the permanent domestic affiliates of foreign concerns. U.S. persons also include U.S. citizens abroad (except when they reside abroad and are employed by non-U.S. persons) and the controlled in fact affiliates of domestic concerns. The test for "controlled in fact" is the ability to establish the general policies or to control the day to day operations of the foreign affiliate.
The scope of the EAR, as defined by Section 8 of the EAA, is limited to actions taken with intent to comply with, further, or support an unsanctioned foreign boycott."
Unfortunately, he has "dip" immunity.
I think it has to do with a boycotting campaign, not with consumer choices. Although, I have to tell you, Israeli food products are AMAZING. Much tastier and healthier than their US counterparts — I mean on the level of supermarket products.
Israelis are healthier and longer lived than Americans. Part of that is Israel's outstanding national health system, but part of that is lifestyle including diet!
Anti-semitic like "THE BLACK MUSLIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE"* is doing everyday.
So Obama must be boycotted from doing any business with Jewish people.
* – quoted from Madonna.
DEFEND FREEDOM DEFEAT OBAMA.
Yup. The "Obama is a Muslim" lie was created by notorious anti-Semite Andy Martin, who now has renounced it. Amazing that Jews will use an anti-Semite as a legitimate source.
You are an idiot. President Obama is stronger on Israel then willard will ever be. Red Jeffrey Goldberg in today Jewish Week.
Its not amazing at all that most Jews would support the anti-semitical Marxist democrat party and the anti-Semite Barack Obama–but it is very telling about what is in their hearts!
Barack Obama–is not black–but rather he is half Negro and half white–by saying he is black, it is denying his white half!
Edward Lobel You are an ignorant fool–Barack Obama hates Jews and Israel–and I knew this back in the summer of 2007!
Why are you SO stupid?
Rc Fowler, you total ignorance is showing as is your bigotry! President Obama loves Jews! His entire "Chicago team from Axelrod thru Emmanual" were Jewsih and got him elected first as a state senator, then as a U.S. Senator. When he got to the white house he appointed several Jews (more than any other president) to senior staff ;eve;s, appointed more Jews to his cabinet, and 2 of his chiefs of staff (the second most powerful position in the white house) went to jews one being orthodox! President Obama had the first Passove sedar ever held in the white house and for you to suggest he hates Jews just goes to show how really stupid and uninformed you are.
I know you think because he will not give you his personal guarentee that he will bomb Iran or that the settlements that he has been against are something that you have a personal problem with, but you probably forgot that every single U.S. president that has been against the settlements and even that anti semitic, re-baptizing dead Jews to the Mormon faith ass wipe willard romney has the same identical position as President Obama! Read (if you know how to) Jeffrey Goldberg in today's Jewish Press and perhaps you may learn something. No need to thank me, just stop being ignorant and foolishby saying stupid things!
I doubt there's any daylight between the Obama and Romney on foreign policy. Sking colors may change, but US foreign policy stays forever.
Falk is obviously an anti-Semitic DICK! He's wasting his final years with a deep embrace of his hatred! hopefully he will soooooon be in a veeeery WARM place!
Connie Mack from Florida wants the usa to stop funding the United Nations and kick them off Usa soil. sounds good to me.
Sad waste of US taxpayer funds, to fund/employ this guy…imho
If Fall is indicative of the UN, it's time for the USA to leave the UN & kick the UN off US soil. NOW. That's my opinion. What's yours?
Typo correction: Falk.
The boycott list just lets me know which companies to support.
From a separate news source as well, "Susan E. Rice, the US permanent representative to the United Nations, in a statement on Friday called Falk's boycott call "irresponsible and unacceptable,” adding: “Mr. Falk’s recommendations do nothing to further a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and indeed poison the environment for peace. His continued service in the role of a UN Special Rapporteur is deeply regrettable and only damages the credibility of the UN.” Rice said that “throughout his tenure as special rapporteur, Mr. Falk has been highly biased and made offensive statements, including outrageous comments on the 9/11 attacks.”
Yes–I concur!
After atacking Israeal in 1967 and trying to kill them and did not stop trying.Isreal hasll the right to keep Palestine It is the humen right for any nation to protect it self from any body whose will is to murder them.
Why waste our time with a well known Anti-Semite!
This dude has an undying hatred of Israel and Jews….soooo he is a natural choice for the UN to send to Israel! Nu…..What else is New?