(December 15, 2021 / FLAME) A few weeks ago, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution denying any Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

It is the site of the two most important Jewish temples, both built hundreds of years before the Arabs arrived in the area and the construction of a mosque atop their ruins.

On the one hand, it’s weird: some 129 nations voted in favor of this resolution that contradicts the Bible and story accepted.

On the other hand, this is not surprising: one of the main weapons used to discredit the legitimacy of the Jewish state in its ancestral and indigenous homeland has been the denial of Jewish history and Jewish sites and archeology. millennia.

Most of these denials are cheap – lies easily refuted by corrupt Palestinian leaders and Arab “scholars”. The pinnacle of the tactic is what Israeli-American writer David Hazony calls “Temple Denial” – “a campaign of intellectual erasure … aimed at undermining Jewish claim to any part of the country,” which he cheekily compares to Holocaust denial.

Since the Palestinians never had sovereignty or control over this land, their attacks on Israel’s legitimacy hinge on this false story. They are forced to “prove” that the Jews are foreign colonizers, and that Muslims and Arabs have been there from time immemorial.

Unfortunately for them, the mere presence of the Temple Mount and countless Jewish sites around Jerusalem — before the Muslim invasion and Arab occupation — completely undermine those lies.

Why then are other countries, many of which are Christians or with large Christian populations, collaborating in these lies, which also deny Christian history and belief?

If there hadn’t been a Temple in Jerusalem or Jews in Judea, then the central parts of the Christian Bible, like Jesus and the money changers, could not have existed. In essence, the nations that deny the historicity of the Temple – and buy the Palestinian narrative that it has only one name, al-Haram al-Sharif – are not only erasing Jewish history, but also Christian history.

Obviously, such intellectual dishonesty and historical self-denial did not prevent the UNGA from disowning the Jewish construction of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Oddly, the UN resolution only refers to the Temple Mount by its Arabic name. It also uses language that encourages restrictions on Jewish and Christian access to the Temple Mount by calling for “to keep the historic status quo at Haram al-Sharif unchanged.”

The text of the resolution was so blatant that countries like the US, UK, Hungary, Canada, Czech Republic and Guatemala voted vs this. The American envoy declared, “It is morally, historically and politically wrong for members of this body to support language that denies” Jewish and Christian ties to the Temple Mount and al-Haram al-Sharif.

But why do so many countries reflexively adopt the Palestinian position, even when it is a denial of facts, history and their own identity? Simply put: selfish political and diplomatic interests.

First, a stacked vote: At the United Nations, there are 22 Arab countries and 57 Islamic states, and one Jewish state. If a nation wants to propose a program or be elected to an organ of the United Nations system, a voice will not get it very far.

In addition, all Arab and Muslim nations are part of what is called the “Non-Aligned Movement”, which brings together most of what used to be called “The Third World”, numbering 120 nations, representing a significant majority in the 192- member of the United Nations system. This means that the Arab and Muslim world has an overwhelming majority in all multilateral forums. This is what Israeli leaders consistently call the “automatic majority” against the Jewish state, and what has led to systematic discrimination in international forums.

Second, natural resources: Between half and two-thirds of the world’s natural resources come from predominantly Muslim countries. It is a powerful tool of persuasion.

Third, the demographics: There are 1.8 billion Muslims in the world and less than 15 million Jews. Many countries, especially in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, have rapidly growing Muslim populations. In democracies or even semi-democracies, local domestic politics often trump everything on the global and diplomatic scene. Staying in power and appeasing the reluctant elements in your own country are powerful motivators for elected officials who need numbers when elections resume.

Fourth, vote for “show”: In the UNGA, resolutions are not binding, simply declaratory. So it costs very little for these nations to automatically vote with the Palestinians and their allies on any issue. The State of Israel will not take any action against these countries.

Most of the countries that vote consistently with the Palestinians have excellent and growing bilateral relations with the Jewish state. They know that Israel does not have the power, interest or diplomatic clout to take advantage of relations against UN voting patterns. The Arab and Muslim side have a lot of weight and are not afraid to use it.

For example, in 2013, Arab countries sought to retaliate against Canada’s then perceived pro-Israel position by stripping it of its role as host of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization, headquartered in Montreal since 1947. Arab ambassadors to the United Nations have started to openly attack Canada, including getting other countries to vote against Ottawa in international organizations, according to the report. Globe and Mail‘s report of this meeting.

This sent a message not only to Canada, but to all those they deemed insufficiently obedient to a Palestinian position. Nations have understood that sanctions and other measures can be taken against them whenever they are deemed too far removed from Palestinian positions and not sufficiently supportive of the delegitimization of the Jewish state.

Next time you wonder why so many UN votes go against Israel – whether in the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, or one of the dozens of international agencies that dictate l global agenda – these simple truths point to the source of intellectual dishonesty and injustice. The global infrastructure has simply been hijacked by the Palestinian narrative.

Additionally, we Americans should thank our democratically elected politicians who continue to support Israel at the United Nations, defying massive pressure – and we should never take that for granted. The battle for the hearts and minds of American voters and our representatives against the enemies of Israel must be fought daily.

James Sinkinson is president of Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME), which publishes educational messages to correct lies and misperceptions about Israel and its relationship with the United States.