Sukkot and the United Nations: Two competing visions of Israel’s history - opinion

The article contrasts the UN General Assembly's criticism of Israel with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, arguing that historical memory and faith, not international approval, secure Israel's legitimacy. The author, from the Israel Defense and Security Forum, condemns world leaders' rhetoric as one-sided propaganda and moral inversion.

The article, an opinion piece by Shimon Refaeli, deputy chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), contrasts the 81st UN General Assembly's criticism of Israel with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The author condemns speeches by world leaders, including outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Turkish President Erdoğan, as one-sided propaganda and a "moral inversion" that severs the Jewish people from their historical justice. Refaeli argues that Sukkot, with its command to dwell in temporary booths, represents a deeper alternative: historical memory as a condition for national survival. He asserts that the Jewish people's right to their land is rooted in faith and the "eternity of Israel," not in the approval of international institutions. The framing relies on emotionally charged vocabulary and a false dichotomy between UN hypocrisy and Jewish historical truth, without procedural sourcing.