COMMENTARY: By Jale Moala
It’s interesting how readily many people in Fiji embrace the work of the United Nations when it supports local programmes such as climate resilience, development, governance and social inclusion.
Yet when the UN publishes reports critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, some of the same voices suddenly dismiss it as corrupt, evil or “fake news”.
Recently the UN published a report that accuses Israel of deliberately targeting children in Gaza.
- READ MORE: Israel continues to commit genocide, atrocity crimes by deliberately targeting Palestinian children, UN independent commission finds
- Israeli envoy and UN official clash at hearing over report blacklisting Tel Aviv
- Other Fiji and Israel reports
Facebook comments in response to the report have described the UN as the “enemy of Israel”, “a promoter of lies” and even an organisation that “stands for terrorists”.
The Fijian response raises an interesting question: Is the UN credible only when it says things we already agree with?
Or do we judge its credibility according to who its findings happen to criticise?
No institution is beyond criticism, including the UN. But it is worth remembering that it has maintained an office in Suva since Fiji’s independence, supporting everything from disaster recovery and climate resilience to governance, health and community development.
It seems odd to celebrate its work when it helps Fiji, yet dismiss it outright when its findings are politically or religiously inconvenient.
Jale Moala, one of Fiji’s most experienced and talented journalists, has been editor of the Fiji Daily Post and Pacific Islands Monthly, night editor of The National daily newspaper in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and a senior journalist on several New Zealand news media. This commentary is republished from his Facebook page with permission.
Targeting of Gaza chidren Video: ABC News
