"Israel was created by the UN so it’s internationally legitimate."

Argument

Supporters argue that Israel was created by the United Nations, making it internationally legitimate. They cite the UN General Assembly vote on Resolution 181 in 1947 as legal and moral endorsement, establishing Israel’s right to statehood under international law.

Counterpoint

Although the UN passed Resolution 181 recommending partition, UN resolutions are not binding and cannot create states by themselves. The resolution itself acknowledged it was non-obligatory. Israel’s creation followed armed conflict and declarations of independence, not UN enforcement.

Moreover, the UN plan was never implemented fully. Arab populations rejected it as unjust, and the ensuing war resulted in displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Palestinians challenge the legitimacy of a state founded through displacement and violence against indigenous people.

Spin

  • Legitimacy masking: Using the UN vote to define Israel as unquestionably lawful minimizes contested history and ongoing displacement.
  • Historical oversimplification: Treating resolution support as equivalent to state creation erases the role of force and conflict in Israel’s founding.
  • Displacement erasure: Does not address that creating the state led to the Nakba and persistent statelessness of Palestinians.
  • Institutional appeal: Appeals to international backing divert attention from unresolved rights issues for Palestinians.

Sources