UN Headquarters Too Close to American Influence for Comfort
When The New Arab suggests relocating the UN headquarters, citing US interference, they touch on an inconvenient truth: the institution's effectiveness is often directly proportional to Washington's approval. This isn't groundbreaking news; the US, for instance, used its veto power in the Security Council 46 times from 1972 to 2022 to protect Israel from critical resolutions. While member states
call for a ceasefire, the US, as a permanent Security Council member, repeatedly blocks action, as seen with multiple resolutions concerning Gaza in late 2023 and early 2024. So, is the UN headquarters in New York merely a convenient backdrop for the US to dictate global policy? One might wonder if the institution truly serves as a neutral arbiter when its most powerful member consistently wields
its influence to shield an ally from accountability. Perhaps a change of address would mean a change of heart, or at least a change of leverage.