Yourish.com notices a huge change in the UN's stance toward Palestinian terrorists and Israel. I can't help but believe that the Bush Administration deserves credit, because of the energetic pursuit of the UN Oild for Food Program scandal. The supporting role of the New York Sun, Fox News,  and the New York Post must also be mentioned. remember that the New York media are seen by members of the UN every day.

Ed Lasky  1 22 05

Richard Baehr adds:

I think it has to do with reality setting in — Bush is  around for 4 more years, and the UN can't keep kicking at him as if he were on the way out.  I think the Norm Coleman article was very important— it got Annan's attention. Serious people were starting to talk about forming a new organization composed just of democracies, with half the UN members  on the outside.  The whole "moral authority" of the organization was at risk — and with it all the high paid tax—free jobs.

I expect more cooperation on Iraq, or at least more people saying the right thing — sort of like the recent Tom Friedman column. Stop bitching about American incompetence in the occupation,and start taking sides. 

Here is some of what Yourish has to say:

More things are happening on the UN/EU front that lead me to believe a sea change has occured. The why of it, I can't tell you. I haven't figured it out. Yet. But the results will be lives saved—on both sides.

Kofi Annan has actually criticized Hezbollah's actions in Lebanon.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20 (KUNA) —— Secretary—General Kofi Annan on Thursday said Hizbollah's military operations in South Lebanon against Israel are "disturbing," and reminded Lebanon that its asserted position that the Blue Line is not valid in the Shaba'a farms is not "compatible" with Security Council resolutions.

"The United Nations has made abundantly clear that no violations of the Blue Line are acceptable. The continually asserted position of the Government of Lebanon that the Blue Line is not valid in the Shab'a farms area is not compatible with Security Council resolutions," Annan told the council in his six—month report on UNIFIL.

He said the resumption of military measures, "for which Hizbollah took credit, asserting its claimed prerogative to resist Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory by force, was disturbing." He said Hizbollah's recent launch of a drone into Israel was a "regrettable development, an activity sure to raise tensions and to increase the prospects for military confrontation."

All right, so in the next breath, he condemned Israel's overflights into Lebanon, but still—this is a huge development, especially when you consider that only five months ago, he was blaming Israel for overflying Lebanon in response to an attack from Hezbollah that killed three engineers fixing an antenna in Israel—within sight of the Lebanese border. Yes, things have changed a bit lately.

While researching the above story, I found this statement by Annan regarding the suicide bomber at the Karni crossing:

The Secretary—General condemns the Palestinian terror attack that caused the death of six Israeli civilians and injury to four others at the Karni crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip yesterday evening. He wishes to express his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured.

The Secretary—General hopes that this terrible incident will not be allowed to undermine the recent positive steps made by both parties. He also calls on the new Palestinian leadership to make all possible attempts to bring to justice the organizers and perpetrators of this attack.

The Secretary—General emphasizes again that violence cannot provide a solution to the conflict, and that only through negotiation can peace be achieved.

Notice that there is no call for Israel to show restraint, and that it is a pure condemnation of the attack—and uses the word "terror"! Compare this to a statement from Annan last year:

UN Secretary—General Kofi Annan and senior European Union officials appealed to Israelis and Palestinians on Thursday to get back to the negotiating table in the wake of Thursday's suicide bombing.

Annan and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, whose country holds the EU presidency, both condemned the attack on a bus in Jerusalem, which killed at least 10 bystanders and wounded 50 others.

"I am once again going to appeal to leaders for the sake of their people and their nations to summon the courage and leadership to get back to the table," Annan said.

He urged them to "make ... parallel concessions and to take confidence—building measures to move the process ahead."

Cowen said the bus attack should not deter attempts to implement the so—called road map for peace that is being pushed by the U.N., the EU, Russia and the United States.