US allies nominate Iran for UN human rights committee despite mass executions

 With thanks to Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iran is set to take its place as a member of a 54-nation committee to safeguard human rights, despite the Islamic Republic’s mass execution of protesters.

Iran will join the UN’s Committee for Programme and Coordination after being selected by the body’s Economic and Social Council, which comprises 54 nations.

Many countries, including the UK, Australia, France and Canada, nominated Iran to join the committee. The only country to vote against the nomination was the US.

The committee’s upcoming agenda includes issues such as terrorism, women’s rights and gender equality, and disarmament.

Iran’s selection comes as its authorities continue a wide-ranging crackdown on dissent.

On January 8 and 9, security forces opened fire on nationwide demonstrations, killing tens of thousands of protesters. Estimates place the death toll between about 12,000 and more than 30,000 people over those two days.

The government has continued its campaign in the months since, carrying out arrests and executions and enforcing restrictions on women’s rights. Authorities have maintained policies that limit basic freedoms and suppress opposition activity.

Tehran has also been cited for its role in funding major terror organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, even as it prepares to participate in discussions that include counterterrorism.

The Economic and Social Council’s decision places Iran on a committee tasked with coordinating UN programs, including those tied to human rights-related issues.

The UN’s Committee for Programme and Coordination is a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council that reviews and coordinates the United Nations’ work programs.

It is becoming politically incorrect to defend oneself

 A growing number of leading progressives in the American political spectrum have come out against continued American funding for the system, some saying it has “emboldened Israel" to attack other countries.

For years, support for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system was immune to politics.

Republicans backed it. Democrats backed it. Funding passed because it was obvious. Intercepting rockets aimed at civilians is not a complicated moral equation.

That clarity is now fading.

As recently as September, a bill to approve supplemental funding for Iron Dome passed the House with only 9 dissenting votes.

However, today, a growing number of leading progressives have come out against continued American funding for the system.

J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Ro Khanna, and Jewish Democratic congressional challenger Brad Lander all now oppose future budget earmarks for Israeli defense systems.

The bottom line is that it is becoming politically incorrect to win a war and human rights are being turned on its head.