Speechwriter speaks on UN's treatment of Israel

When it comes to Israel, "We don't expect that the UN can act fairly and impartially" Ben Harris told an audience of Tufts students Monday.

It may seem a pretty grim view, considering Harris is the current speechwriter and assistant spokesperson for the Israeli Mission to the United Nations.

Harris, who contributes to all the speeches given by Israel's representatives to the UN, delivered a predictably pro-Israel viewpoint, although he expressed some empathy for the Arab point of view.

Harris theorized that what he called unfair treatment of Israel by the UN stemmed from Israel being blocked from membership in the Asian regional group by nearby Arab states. Israel is the only UN member that does not belong to one of five geographic groups.

Harris said the UN has been unable to impose peace in the Middle East. He explained that the organization's main function must be to grant legitimacy to peace proposals between the state of Israeli and the Palestinian Authority.

According to Harris, part of the problem between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is that the Palestinian agenda consists of trying to "make trouble for Israel." He said "the Palestinians continue to view themselves as the sole victims and Israel as the sole aggressor."

He also said the Arab community has yet to accept Israel's claim to territory acquired from the Israeli-Arab wars. "Israel is not going to give back land to gain legitimacy," Harris said.

"Both of us have rights, both of us have grievances," he said. "The only way to solve the problem is to sit down at a table and talk."

Despite the limited role he sees for the UN in solving the problem with the Palestinians, Harris explained that Israel has maintained a relationship with the United Nations in part because international perception of UN approval is so positive. He mentioned the Bush administration, which has had to make an attempt -- or at least a pretense of one -- to gain the organization's support before mobilizing in Iraq.

Harris believes Israel can improve its treatment by the UN by becoming more active in non-political, uncontroversial areas. "It would be helpful for Israel to build relations in forums that are not bitter," he said.

Harris' speech, entitled "Israel and the UN: A Voice from Inside," was sponsored by Friends of Israel, in cooperation with the University Student Division of the Hagshama Department of the World Zionist Organization.

Harris addressed the peculiarity of talking about peace at a time when terrorism is prominently on the national conscience, war with Iraq is a very real possibility, and there is diminished hope for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

In addition to his speechwriting, Harris is the former editor-in-chief of It Magazine, a Jerusalem-based English language publication, and he has written for The Jerusalem Post.