United Nations Tensions: Examining the Discontent of Israel and Japan with U.N. Policies and Actions

September 10, 2025

United Nations Faces Rising distrust in Key Nations: A Global poll Reveals Shifting Sentiment

A recent global survey indicates a generally positive view of the United Nations, however, significant declines in public favorability are emerging in Israel and Japan.experts attribute this to concerns over perceived political bias and a lack of tangible results addressing specific national interests. The findings highlight a growing disconnect between the UN’s aims and the expectations of certain member states.

Global Approval Remains Predominantly Positive

according to data released by the Fury Research Center on september 9th, 61% of adults surveyed across 25 countries expressed a favorable opinion of the United Nations, while 32% held an unfavorable view. The study,conducted between January and April,excluded China and Russia from its assessment. This suggests that, the UN continues to be seen as a valuable institution by a majority of the world’s population.

Israel Expresses Deepest Discontent

Israel stands out as the nation with the most negative perception of the UN, with only 16% expressing approval and a stark 80% holding unfavorable views. This deep dissatisfaction stems from repeated criticisms of Israel regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Kim Eun-bi, a professor of diplomatic and security policy, Israel perceives the UN as consistently enacting resolutions detrimental to its interests, rather than acting as an impartial mediator. The core disagreement revolves around differing views of Israel’s legitimacy; Israel bases its founding narrative on historical sacrifice,while the UN frames it through the lens of UN resolutions.

Further fueling distrust are suspicions surrounding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), with allegations of links to Hamas influencing Israeli perceptions.

Japan’s concerns Over Security and Influence

Japan recorded a 38% approval rating, placing it 23rd in the survey and among the nations with the lowest confidence in the UN, surpassed only by Israel and Türkiye (32%). Lee Chang-min,a professor of convergence studies,indicated that Japanese citizens believe the UN has failed to effectively address North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and China’s increasing military assertiveness.

Financial Contribution vs. Perceived Impact

Despite being the third-largest contributor to the UN budget – allocating 6.9%, or $23.5 million, – Japan feels its financial contributions aren’t translating into tangible benefits. China currently leads in budgetary contributions at 22.0% (projected for 2025), followed by the United States at 20.0%. Professor Lee added that japan also feels constrained by Article 9 of its constitution, which limits the operational scope of its Self-Defense Forces and hinders its ability to fully participate in UN-led security initiatives.

South Korea Stands Out with Strong Support

in contrast, South Korea demonstrates high levels of support for the UN, with 74% of respondents expressing a favorable opinion-the fourth-highest among the 25 countries surveyed.The legacy of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who served from 2007 to 2016, is believed to have contributed to this positive perception.

As ban Ki-moon stated, while the United Nations is broadly recognized positively worldwide, certain regions and groups harbor deep-seated distrust.

Country	UN Approval Rating (%)
South Korea	74
Israel	16
Japan	38
Türkiye	32
Global Average	61

Did You Know? The United Nations was founded in 1945 after World War II with the aim of preventing future global conflicts?

Pro Tip: Staying informed about UN initiatives and resolutions can help you understand its impact on global issues and form your own informed opinion.

What factors do you believe are most crucial for maintaining the United nations’ relevance in the 21st century? how can the UN better address the concerns of nations like Israel and Japan?

The Evolving Role of the United Nations

The United Nations was established in the wake of World War II to foster international cooperation and prevent future conflicts. Over the decades,its role has expanded to encompass a wide range of issues,including peacekeeping,humanitarian aid,sustainable development,and human rights. Though,the UN’s effectiveness is frequently enough hampered by political disagreements among member states,bureaucratic inefficiencies,and funding constraints.

In recent years, the rise of nationalism and populism in various parts of the world has presented new challenges to the UN’s authority. Moreover, the emergence of new global threats, such as climate change, pandemics, and cyber warfare, requires the UN to adapt and innovate to remain relevant.

Frequently asked Questions About the United Nations

• What is the primary purpose of the United Nations? The UN’s core mission is to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, and promote social progress, better living standards and human rights.
• How is the United Nations funded? the UN is funded through assessed contributions from member states and voluntary contributions from governments,organizations,and individuals.
• What is the role of the UN Security Council? The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
• Why is there criticism of the United Nations? Criticisms often center around the UN’s bureaucracy, perceived biases, and limited effectiveness in resolving complex global issues.
• How can individuals get involved with the United Nations? Individuals can support the UN through advocacy, volunteering, and donations.

Share your thoughts on the future of the United Nations in the comments below!

How do the constitutional limitations faced by Japan impact its ability to fully participate in UN peacekeeping operations, and what adjustments, if any, are being considered to address these constraints?

Israel’s Long-Standing Grievances with the United nations

For decades, Israel has voiced notable criticisms of the united Nations, stemming from what it perceives as systemic bias and unfair treatment. this discontent isn’t new, but has intensified over time, impacting its relationship with the international body. Key areas of contention include:

Security Council Resolutions: Israel frequently objects to resolutions passed by the UN Security Council, particularly those concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Resolutions condemning Israeli settlements, recognizing Palestinian statehood, or criticizing Israeli actions in Gaza are frequently enough viewed as disproportionately focused on Israel while ignoring Palestinian actions.The veto power held by permanent members, particularly the united States, often plays a crucial role in blocking resolutions Israel deems harmful, but the very debate highlights the tension.

General Assembly Resolutions: The UN General Assembly, where all member states have a vote, has consistently passed resolutions critical of israel.These resolutions, while non-binding, contribute to a perceived antagonistic international environment. The sheer volume of resolutions focused on Israel, compared to those addressing other conflicts, fuels accusations of bias.

Human Rights Council (UNHRC): Israel has consistently been a target of scrutiny by the UNHRC. The establishment of a permanent commission of inquiry into alleged human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,viewed by Israel as inherently biased,is a major point of contention. Israel has refused to cooperate with the commission, arguing it is predetermined to condemn Israel.

UNESCO and Cultural Heritage: Disputes over Jerusalem and its ancient sites have led to friction with UNESCO. Israel’s concerns center around UNESCO resolutions denying Jewish connections to holy sites and recognizing Palestinian claims to cultural heritage within Jerusalem.

Funding and Mandates: Israel has criticized the allocation of UN funds to palestinian organizations, alleging that some of these funds are diverted to support terrorism. Concerns about the mandates and operations of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) are also frequently raised.

Case Study: The Gaza Conflict & UN Response (2021) – The 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas saw intense international scrutiny. While the UN called for de-escalation, Israel criticized the UN’s focus on civilian casualties in Gaza without adequately addressing Hamas’s rocket attacks on Israeli cities. This exemplifies the core of Israel’s complaint: a perceived imbalance in condemnation.

Japan’s Evolving Discontent: security Council Reform and Regional Issues

While Japan’s relationship with the UN is generally positive, a growing sense of frustration has emerged, primarily centered around the structure of the UN Security Council and its inability to address contemporary regional challenges effectively.

Security Council Membership & Veto Power: Japan is a major financial contributor to the UN and has long sought a permanent seat on the Security Council. Its bid is consistently blocked by China, a permanent member with veto power. This perceived inequity – a significant contributor lacking commensurate influence – is a major source of discontent. japan argues that the Security council’s composition, established after World War II, no longer reflects the current global power dynamics.

North Korean provocations: Japan has repeatedly expressed frustration with the UN Security Council’s response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. While sanctions have been imposed, Japan believes they haven’t been stringent enough to deter North Korea’s aggressive behavior. The limitations imposed by China and Russia’s veto power have hampered stronger action.

Abduction Issue: the ongoing issue of Japanese citizens abducted by north Korea in the 1970s and 80s remains a significant concern. Japan has sought stronger UN involvement in resolving this issue, but progress has been limited.

Regional Security Concerns: Japan is increasingly concerned about China’s growing military and economic influence in the East and South China Seas. It seeks greater UN support for upholding international law and freedom of navigation in these contested waters.

UN Peacekeeping Operations: Japan’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations is often constrained by its pacifist constitution. Navigating these constitutional limitations while contributing to global security efforts presents ongoing challenges.

Real-world Example: the North Korean Missile Launches (2023-2024) – Despite numerous UN Security Council resolutions condemning North Korea’s missile tests, the launches continued.Japan voiced strong criticism, arguing that the existing sanctions regime was insufficient and that stronger action was needed, but was hampered by the lack of consensus within the Security Council.

Comparative Analysis: Shared & Divergent Concerns

While Israel and Japan’s grievances with the UN differ in origin and scope,some common threads emerge:

Perception of Inequity: Both nations feel that the current UN system doesn’t adequately reflect their contributions or address their specific security concerns.

Limitations of the Security Council: The veto power held by permanent members is a recurring source of frustration for both countries, hindering their ability to achieve desired outcomes.

Focus on Political Considerations: Both Israel and Japan believe that political considerations often outweigh objective assessments of facts and international law within the UN system.

However,their concerns also diverge:

Nature of the Grievances: Israel’s discontent is largely focused on perceived bias in resolutions and investigations related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Japan’s concerns are more centered on structural issues within the