This discussion, featuring international human rights lawyer Craig Muhibar, addresses the ongoing Israeli genocide in Palestine and the perceived complicity of the US, Western, and some Arab governments. Muhibar advocates for activating the UN's "Uniting for Peace" mechanism to bypass the US Security Council veto and implement concrete measures against Israel, including denying credentials, imposing sanctions and a military embargo, establishing a criminal tribunal, reactivating anti-apartheid mechanisms, and deploying a multinational protection force to Palestine. He condemns recent Israeli attacks in Qatar and Yemen as violations of international law and diplomacy, highlighting US complicity and the "Fouian" nature of Gulf states' alliances. The conversation also criticizes the US for denying visas to Palestinian Authority leaders for the UN General Assembly and calls for the UN to relocate its headquarters from New York due to persistent US obstruction and harassment.
Summarizing the Electronic Intifada Livestream: UN Action on Palestine
0:00 - The Dire Situation in Palestine: The hosts and guest Craig Muhibar assert that after 22 months of unprecedented "carnage," the Israeli regime will not voluntarily end the genocide, the US and its allies are fully committed to it, and other Western and complicit Arab states prioritize Israeli impunity.
0:46 - "Uniting for Peace" Initiative: Craig Muhibar, an international human rights lawyer, is supporting an initiative to force Israel to stop the genocide using the UN's "Uniting for Peace" mechanism, as detailed in his article for Mondo Weiss.
1:25 - Proposed UN General Assembly Actions: Under this initiative, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) would:
Deny Israel's credentials.
Call for sanctions and a military embargo.
Establish a criminal tribunal.
Reactivate the UN's anti-apartheid mechanisms.
Mandate a UN protection force to safeguard civilians, facilitate aid, and preserve evidence of war crimes.
2:05 - Reaction to Recent Israeli Attacks: Muhibar reacts to Israel's air attack on Doha, Qatar (targeting a Hamas negotiating team, killing six including a Hamas official's son), and recent strikes in Yemen (targeting a health facility, building, and media outlets, killing and injuring dozens). He also mentions attacks on humanitarian boats in Tunisia.
3:32 - Israel's Disregard for International Law & Diplomacy: Muhibar labels these attacks as grave violations of international law, the UN Charter, and diplomatic norms, reminding of past treacherous acts. He argues Israel doesn't want a ceasefire, seeing it as an "inconvenient obstacle" to its plan for the "total destruction of Gaza and Palestine."
5:12 - US Complicity and Gulf States' Vulnerability: Israel's impunity is guaranteed by decades of US support and tax dollars. Muhibar asserts US complicity in the Doha attack, arming assassins, green-lighting killings, and standing down US air defenses in Qatar. He highlights the "Fouian nature" of Gulf States' deals with the US-Israel axis, sacrificing sovereignty, economy, and honor, and being "thrown under the bus" by the US.
7:00 - Broader Assault on the Region: Muhibar emphasizes that these are not isolated incidents but part of a wider assault on the region and the world, including genocide, occupation, terror attacks, and the spread of racist ideology, posing an "1930s moment" threat.
8:37 - Bypassing the Security Council Veto: The "Uniting for Peace" resolution, a Cold War relic from 1950, empowers the democratic UNGA (where there is no veto) to act when the Security Council is blocked.
10:50 - Historical Precedent and Practical Measures: It was successfully used in 1956 to mandate a UN emergency force during the Suez Crisis. While previously used for symbolic resolutions on Palestine, Muhibar argues it can legally enable practical measures like sanctions, a military embargo, withdrawal of Israel's UN credentials (like South Africa), establishing a criminal tribunal, reactivating anti-apartheid mechanisms, and deploying a multinational protection force.
13:52 - Imminent Deadline and Risks: A UNGA deadline of September 18th for Israel to comply with ICJ findings and UNGA demands is approaching. The risk is that further measures will be meaningless, damaging (e.g., a "stabilization force"), or lead to inaction, creating a vacuum for "mad delusions" like Trump's "one big casino" plan for Palestine.
15:18 - A Protection Force as an Immediate Solution: This proposed protection force would operate with Palestinian consent, with a specific mandate to protect civilians, facilitate aid, and preserve evidence, not engaging in governance issues. It could be deployed now despite hurdles.
15:57 - Driving Public Scrutiny: The goal is to bring this conversation into public light, compelling states to take a public stance on protecting Palestine, thereby changing political calculus and incentive structures.
16:51 - Long-Term vs. Short-Term Strategy: This initiative is a short-term move for immediate protection, not a replacement for the long-term struggle for Palestinian liberation through boycott, divestment, sanctions, prosecutions, education, civil disobedience, and public demonstrations.
17:36 - The Nature of the Intervention: The proposed intervention would be a non-invasion, non-combat, armed protection force, potentially comprising contingents from diverse nations (e.g., Spain, Ireland, South Africa, Brazil), operating under a UN mandate, not a Chapter 7 mandate imposed against Palestinian will.
19:58 - Realism and Political Will: While states have existing legal obligations to intervene, a UN mandate provides diplomatic and political cover, incentivizing countries currently hesitant to act unilaterally. Support is noted from figures like the Presidents of Ireland and Colombia. The US remains the "elephant in the room," expected to obstruct both adoption and implementation.
26:40 - "50% Chance" for Success: Muhibar believes the current alignment of circumstances presents the best chance, "at best a 50% chance," for this initiative, warning that failure to act could be the "beginning of the end" for the UN's credibility.
28:34 - US Denial of Visas to PA Leaders: The US denying visas to Palestinian Authority leaders (including Mahmoud Abbas) for the UNGA is deemed unlawful, a breach of US treaty obligations, and a "childish" attempt to block Palestinian participation.
32:58 - Historical Precedent of US Isolation: In 1988, when the US blocked Yasser Arafat's entry, the UNGA moved its session to Geneva. Muhibar argues the UN should move the current session to Geneva and permanently relocate its headquarters from New York due to continuous US harassment and unlawful actions against UN personnel.
40:51 - Call to Action: Muhibar urges ordinary people to get involved in supporting this short-term campaign, noting a day of global action on September 18th, and directs people to his social media (Twitter/X) and involved organizations for more information.