UNESCO Adopts Controversial Jerusalem Resolution

[aranthus]

12. Arguably it is.

Whether it should be is another matter. There are similarities between Israel/Jerusalem, but also some very significant differences.

First, the Crimea was long considered Russian territory. Russia annexed it in 1783. Then in 1954 it was transferred as an administrative matter to the Ukraine. Remember that this was when Ukraine was not an independent state, but was merely a part of the Soviet (Russian) Empire. So arguably not intended as a transfer of Russian sovereignty. The Ukraine simply took the territory with it when it became independent. So not the greatest claim to sovereignty, but some.

The differences between Israel/Jerusalem and Russia/Crimea are substantial. Russia took Ukraine in an aggressive act. Not exactly a war, but still, Russia created a situation where its forces could move in and take the territory from a country that had not attacked it. Israel took East Jerusalem in a war of aggression against it started by, among others, the country of Jordan from which it took the territory. Second, as I noted above, Ukraine had at least some legitimate claim to sovereignty over Crimea. Jordan had no legitimate claim to Jerusalem at all. In fact, at the time, the only legitimate claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem belonged to Israel.

As for Russia/Crimea, the only reason I can see to void the Russian claim is the manner in which the Russians enforced it. We don't wan to encourage states to settle territorial disputes by force. Although, historically, that is how they have usually been settled. Also historically, the Russian claim to sovereignty over Crimea is much stronger than Ukraine's. It was long Russian territory which the Ukraine obtained almost by mistake.