UN-Truth

Member of the Online News Association

This blog hopes to shed some light on the workings of the United Nations and of issues that are discussed at the United Nations — starting with issues that are of particular concern to us.

This is not an official UN website, and all opinions are purely personal.

The first items were posted on UN Truth on 24 October, UN Day, in 2006.

UN Day commemorates the UN Charter’s entry into force on 24 October 1945. The UN Charter was signed a few months earlier, on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco.

UN-Truth is written by Marian Houk, a writer, reporter, journalist and analyst with long experience at the United Nations — not only in New York and in Geneva — and with the Middle East. She has reported on, and for a time also worked for, the United Nations. She is currently based in Jerusalem.

UN-Truth is hosted on servers that are set up and maintained by Zero-Analog in San Francisco.

Here are links to some of Marian Houk’s recently-published articles:

Palestinian Authority struggles with Gaza sanctions
December 10, 2007
Marian Houk
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=45273

Stop or step out
One of the UN’s own calls for the UN’s head to stop playing favourites in Israeli-Palestinian affairs, writes Marian Houk in Jerusalem
18 - 24 October 2007
Issue No. 867
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/867/index.htm

Rice visits the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem
October 17, 2007
by: Marian Houk
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=40544

Shimon Peres says that Israel can now get over being nervous
September 25, 2007
by: Marian Houk
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=38465

Gaza gas talks with Israel, UK firm quietly ongoing
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 28, 2007
JERUSALEM — While some Palestinians have angrily said they are prepared to write off Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ recent rout of Fatah forces there, cooler heads are pondering the implications concerning Gaza’s maritime assets - in particular, the natural gas deposits off Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070628-090038-7580r

Analysis: Leaving Gaza
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 22, 2007
GAZA CITY & JERUSALEM — While there are still those reluctant to set foot outside their houses since Hamas’ climactic rout of Fatah from Gaza last week, others, newly liberated from their homes, are enjoying the relative tranquility. This shift in fear is part of a wider picture suggesting Gaza, today, may be only part of the way through a revolution.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070622-095230-8134r

Hamas leader pledges Gaza reconstruction
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 21, 2007
Mahmoud Zahar, one of the founders and leaders of Hamas, whose forces overran Fatah fighters in a stunning rout in Gaza last week, said Wednesday that the priority in Gaza now was to reconstruct what had been destroyed.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070621-084451-2362r

Torment continues at Erez checkpoint, uneasy peace holds in Gaza
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 20, 2007
GAZA CITY — There may be worse places on earth, but not many. The Erez checkpoint between the northern Gaza Strip and Israel is designed for hostile crowd control. Over the past few days, its concrete corridors have become fearful, squalid holding cells where hundreds of Palestinians have been trapped in fear, without food, water, sanitation, or shelter. Adamantly refusing to return to Gaza , they have been barred by Israel from passing through, even if only to reach the West Bank.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070620-075400-2326r

Interview: Mustafa Barghouti on Palestinian ‘emergency’
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 18, 2007
JERUSALEM — Mustafa Barghouti, the Palestinian minister of information in the National Unity Government suspended Friday night by President Mahmoud Abbas after a stunning rout of Fatah forces by Hamas in Gaza, says he turned down the offer, this weekend, of a portfolio in the just-formed Emergency Government in Palestine.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070618-010912-9267r

Analysis: Security first priority vows new Abbas cabinet
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 18, 2007
JERUSALEM — Recently-appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad - also heading the new Palestinian foreign and finance ministries - has vowed that assuring law and order would be a key priority of the day-old Palestinian emergency cabinet.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070618-085956-8501r

Hamas attempts Gaza clean-up, Fatah talks for new government excluding rivals continue
Marian Houk, additional reporting by Raja Mukahal
Middle East Times
June 16, 2007
As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday held consultations in Ramallah, West Bank on the formation of an emergency, Hamas-free government, two days after the Islamist movement’s stunning rout of Fatah fighters in the Gaza Strip, Hamas, itself, was moving to clean up the streets and restore order in Gaza.
After its military coup - described as an attempt to restore law and order - Hamas denounced Abbas’ efforts to form a new government as being equivalent to a political coup.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070616-074001-6435r

Israel continues Palestinian tax fund freeze, Abbas renews calls for Gaza port
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 14, 2007
JERUSALEM — Despite an Israeli cabinet decision that “water and electricity should be kept out of the conflict,” Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has still not agreed to lift a freeze of Palestinian funds to pay for the connection of a northern Gaza electrical substation to Israel’s electrical grid.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070614-091456-1597r

Lawyers grapple with 40 years of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 11, 2007
TEL AVIV & JERUSALEM — An all-star cast of international law experts pondered Israel’s lengthy occupation of Palestinian territory last week, as the world marked the 40th anniversary of the June 1967 Six-Day war that brought the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem under Israeli control.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070611-044656-9455r

Gaza plant still hobbled almost a year after attack
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 8, 2007
RAMALLAH & JERUSALEM — Nearly a year after an Israeli airstrike, Gaza’s power plant cannot yet resume full operation to supply vitally-needed electricity to one of the most densely populated areas on earth - just as demand is about to peak during the hot summer months.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070608-063048-6715r

Israel minister, Fatah officer trade views on Gaza crisis
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 1, 2007
JERUSALEM — Despite the dark humor and occupation-derived anecdotes, a meeting between a controversial Fatah commander and Israel ’s environment minister to discuss the current Gaza violence demonstrated a willingness to strive for a solution.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070601-074306-9124r

More than a spin doctor - an interview with top Israeli strategist Eyal Arad
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
May 30, 2007
JERUSALEM — It was not Ehud Barak’s experience, nor Ami Ayalon’s position as a relative political novice, that made the 5-percent difference in the votes garnered Monday by these two frontrunners in Israel’s important Labor Party primary elections. The decisive factor was that Barak had a much better field operation, according to one of Israel’s top political strategists, Eyal Arad.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070530-041248-9001r

Analysis: Six months of negotiations may open way to long-term Israeli deal to buy Gaza gas
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
May 26, 2007
Jerusalem — Movement was reported this week on an Israeli government decision to authorize a long-term agreement to purchase gas from Gaza’s offshore wells at market price from the Palestinian Authority.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070526-033515-3404r

Abbas says ceasefire holds, praises Swiss peace plan
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
April 27, 2007
GENEVA — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that while there had been a “disruption” in the ceasefire with Israel during the past week, “things are going back as they were before, I hope.” He also indicated his support for an earlier Geneva proposal, aimed at facilitating a final Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070427-080405-2453r

Analysis: UN says Israel must face sensitive issues
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
March 11, 2007
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070311-014041-3498r

Analysis: UN urges Israel to counter discrimination
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
February 27, 2007
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070227-035925-7158r

Iran’s arrest of nuclear official meant to stifle debate
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
May 3, 2007
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070503-023343-8127r

Analysis: The dilemma of Iran’s nuclear program
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
March 27, 2007
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070327-064103-2569r

Interview with Iran FM - Mottaki says direct talks key
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
March 13, 2007
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070313-103525-9115r

Analysis: UN official files anti-execution brief
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
February 9, 2007
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070209-015239-1261r

Explosive Announcement
Iran’s declaration that its scientists have successfully
enriched uranium took the West by surprise, writes
Marian Houk.
13 - 19 April 2006
Issue No. 790
Front Page
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/790/fr1.htm

Commission to council
The UN Human Rights Commission is to be abolished
and the Human Rights Council is to take its place,
writes Marian Houk in Geneva.
9 - 15 March 2006
Issue No. 785
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/785/in2.htm

A cross affair
A new humanitarian emblem, a “crystal”, was officially adopted
by the ICRC, reports Marian Houk in Geneva.
15 - 21 December 2005
Issue No. 773
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/773/in3.htm

Outside looking in
The Palestinian Diaspora is gearing up to get more involved
in the handling of the cause, reports Marian Houk from Geneva
8 - 14 December 2005
Issue No. 772
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/772/re2.htm