Cozy Corner

Earlier, I wrote about UNICEF soliciting funds - but only for Lebanese children. I wrote back to UNICEF, asking about Israeli children, and received this response:

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. We welcome the opportunity to respond to your questions regarding UNICEF’s work for and with Israel. UNICEF's mission is to ensure every child’s right to health, equality, education, and protection.
UNICEF is very concerned about the impact of the Middle East conflict on children, including the deaths of both Israeli and Lebanese children. UNICEF’s position in all conflicts is that children should be treated as "zones of peace," neither targeted, recruited to fight, nor otherwise made victims of an adult conflict. There are no exceptions to this, and no party to this conflict is unaware of UNICEF’s views. Adults on both sides of the conflict have a special responsibility to protect children from violence. The conflict is between adults and not between soldiers and children. Yet children are gravely affected by the violence.

As one of the first beneficiaries of UNICEF, Israel received child survival and development support beginning in 1948 and lasting 18 years. By 1966, the government of Israel achieved the goal of many developing nations - attaining economic wherewithal to care for its children - and notified UNICEF that it no longer required assistance. Today, UNICEF fully supports peace education activities for both Israeli and Palestinian children in the belief that violence can be prevented through education. The Israeli National Committee for UNICEF, founded in 1969 to support UNICEF's work, supports and conducts peace education events throughout Israel. And each year, the Israeli government makes a voluntary contribution to UNICEF and is a signatory to all UN conventions protecting the rights of children. In 2004, the government of Israel donated $60,000 to support UNICEF’s programs. An additional $13,187 was raised from voluntary contributions.

UNICEF works to ensure the health and well-being of all children, regardless of nationality, race, or gender. UNICEF is an organization made up of dedicated humanitarians, working for the best interests of children everywhere, even in the most complex and challenging settings.

We appreciate you taking the time to voice your concerns. Please feel free to contact our offices with further questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

Program Services
212-686-5522
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
www.unicefusa.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For every child
Health, Education, Equality, Protection
ADVANCE HUMANITY

I've replied:

UNICEF Program Services,

Thank you for the context. I will note, however, that at this point, many children are refugees within Israel. And, while Israelis, Jews, and concerned peoples around the world are raising funds to support those who are sheltering the children, it seems odd to me that UNICEF would not be one of them. In fact, in light of the actions of other UN organizations, it behooves UNICEF to act to dispel any notion of UN bias. I would suggest at the very least, you look into whether the residents of Beit Shemesh could use your assistance. Or maybe those of Tzfat. It is possible you are already doing so; if so, I would be pleased to hear it. And I understand that the Lebanese have not done as good a job at safeguarding their own children as the Israelis have, and need the lion's share of your attention; but I would suggest that you consider ways in which UNICEF can actually be a non-partisan agency.

Thank you for your time,

Andy

So their short answer is: You Jews are doing a mighty fine job of taking care of yourself. Keep it up. Especially if you can keep giving us money, too.