They just wanted a confession.

And engaging in questionable activities themselves.

allegations.

That's very strange - it's almost as if the allegations were fabricated...

.....that have committed atrocious crimes in Haiti and Central African Republic.

U.N. chief Ban regrets peacekeeper abuse, Haiti cholera
https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-n-chief-ban-regrets-peacekeeper-abuse-haiti-075403312.html

They have zero credibility given how corrupt they are, but also when it comes to Israel. Recently they denied Palestinian UNRWA employees were inciting terror & dehumanizing Jews on Facebook, for example. They're really good at covering for criminals and heads of states committing crimes against humanity to their own people.

Meanwhile, Israel already has a confession from the UN employee accused of funneling funds to Hamas.

they confess to is the normal Israeli standard, but when it comes to the UN, (and the rest of the civilized world) the suspect has to actually commit a crime to be guilty.

Surely there must be some kind of actual evidence apart from a forced confession of this crime being committed...

But that's your idea of a civilized UN "world" body.

Just saying, consider the vile source. The UN is a moral farce. Israel is far more civilized in comparison. In fact, it's not even close.

Another possible conclusion could be that World Vision and the UN investigators are covering something up.

The UN, as I point out, has a long track record of that sort of thing.

Your trust in the Israeli justice system is misplaced IMHO.

....and horrendous crimes being swept under the rug? Israel comes nowhere close to the utter depravity of the UN. In fact, Israel's record on basically everything is better than most, if not all Western Democratic Liberal nations, especially given the threats Israel faces.

Had this been a Norwegian member of a UN delegation, things would be different - but this is a Palestinian employee of the UN, not someone who could plausibly have immunity in this case. So there's nothing to "lift" - nor a privilege for the UN to exercise.

If the German embassy brings over a German citizen to act as a driver in New York, that person could plausibly have some diplomatic immunity. If they instead hired a guy from Jersey... he would have no such immunity from prosecution (regardless of what "administrative instruction" or "resolution" Germany pointed to) for actions that he took apart from his actual driving.

and the PA respectively.

As Bursh was only following their orders, he shouldn't be responsible. It's significant that the UN has no problem with relinquishing his immunity if Israel would actually present evidence of any wrongdoing.

That's in no sense his "normal duties".

A UN response claims that isn't quite what happened, but you can't pretend that it isn't what is alleged.

The point is that law enforcement has an obligation to substantiate any allegations to their supervisors and the nation's judiciary and (perhaps) executive. They don't have an obligation to substantiate them to internet denizens half a world away nor to the accused's employer (whose opinion is likely tainted by other pro-Hamas associates).

Besides, if Israel starts to arrest and convict UN personnel on trumped up charges, it will seriously curtail the ability for the UN to distribute humanitarian aid in the occupied territories.

You're the one claiming that the charges are "trumped up" and assuming that it wouldn't be a fair trial. So far there isn't any reason to believe that's true (particularly in the face of confession) apart from your own prejudices.

it will seriously curtail the ability for the UN to distribute humanitarian aid in the occupied territories.

You don't think that billions of dollars in UN-administered aid being diverted by Hamas to warheads and terror tunnels "seriously curtails" that ability now? Nah!

We know for certain that the crime has been committed over and over and over again. The only question here is whether this confessing suspect can be proven guilty of it.

UN's own investigation yielded no evidence of any wrongdoing.

Your assertion "that billions of dollars in UN-administered aid being diverted by Hamas to warheads and terror tunnels" makes me wonder if we simply have different criteria for what constitutes a fact, which may explain why we have opinions on this issue.

The accused is not a recognized foreign diplomat for the United Nations. He's a local worker.

The accused has a right to a trial at which time each side can present their side of the story.

As for the UN's investigation, I give it as much credibility as you and Mondoweiss do to any investigation by the IDF. Heck, the UN still hasn't explained the mysterious missile stockpiles Israel found and destroyed in the UN schools during the last Gaza war.

The UN wants this to go away quickly and quietly because they work in Gaza, and since Gaza is run by Hamas, even the elements of the UN not directly sympathetic to Hamas, have to work with them. They are also afraid that a public trial could impact donations to the region from Western and some Arab governments and groups (more so than most of the money already pledged and never delivered.)

However, you are correct that this arrest will indeed impede UN development and aid activities in Gaza. If Hamas doesn't get their cut and able to divert money and material to their terrorists efforts, they will not allow the UN to operate efficiently, or in some cases, at all. You should direct your ire at the Hamas for they apparently care far more about killing Jews than the welfare of their own people.

No one has been held accountable for that.

No investigation, nothing.

In fact, the UN just handed those rockets to Hamas, which makes them so very credible (not) when it comes to bashing Israel.

The interesting question is.......why are Shin Bet holding back on supplying the reason for the arrest?.......If nothing else it makes the GOI look incompetent and uncaring about human rights....

An outside power (which they already have reason to distrust) is telling you that you have to release someone unless you prove to their satisfaction that the arrest was appropriate. Even if you have such evidence, turning it over implies that you agree that their approval is required for you actions.

In one case people are being killed or vanished without a trace. In the other case the established law enforcement arrested the criminal and placed him in prison awaiting trial. He isn't hidden, nor is his existence denied. They just aren't allowing his employer to demand that they get to decide what should be done with him instead of the court system.

All the evidence available to the UN strongly indicates that Bursh worked on the orders of the UN/PA and that there was no wrongdoing whatsoever. Until there's actual evidence of any wrongdoing, they are bound to defend him, just like they do with other UN personnel detained for no valid reason.

Unsubstantiated charges are not bogus by definition. More importantly, these aren't unsubstantiated - they just haven't been substantiated to the UN. The UN is not the governing body in this case.

All the evidence available to the UN

I doubt that's true... but it doesn't matter... because the question is what evidence is available to law enforcement and the courts. The UN doesn't get to set the standard for substantiation.

Until there's actual evidence of any wrongdoing

Suddenly even a confession is not even "evidence" of wrongdoing?

What you really mean is that the UN hasn't been given evidence that satisfies them... but it isn't their decision that matters.

I think they're completely bogus for three reasons: Israel hasn't provided any kind of evidence that substantiates the charges, the strict controls that are in place makes it impossible to divert aid to Hamas, and the UN's own investigation hasn't revealed any kind of wrongdoing.

The UN and most donors don't even make such a ridiculous claim. It's ludicrous on its face.

Also, what did the purported UN investigation entail, and given that any findings of wrongdoing could be disastrous for fundraising and aid distribution to Gaza, why would we give it any more credence than you and your cited sources give to any investigations performed by the IDF or Israeli government? Do purported conflicts of interest and self-dealing only apply to Jews?

If Hamas actually managed to divert aid in spite of all safeguards, I'm sure the UN will try prevent it from happening, just like they try to do in every other location where they distribute aid...

It's a simple fact that in order to operate in areas under control of terrorists, warlords and other undesirables, aid agencies often have to look the other way about theft, extortion and other crimes and other malfeasance, or even directly pay bribes or protection money. This is generally not openly discussed as the people of the host and donor nations, as opposed to their governments, would be irate.

Also keep in mind that in places like Gaza, much of the UN aid staff is local (like the accused) and quite sympathetic and supportive of Hamas. That's precisely how the rockets ended up in various UN properties during the last war.

However, next time you complain that an IDF investigation cannot be trusted because of self-interest, I'll be sure to remind you about your faith in UN investigations about its own problems (and remind you of other instances such as when it took a whistleblower who was seriously retaliated against to expose child sex abuse by UN staff).

does not constitute an absence of evidence.

Israel has a first-world judicial system, and the accused will get his day in court (or reach some type of plea bargain).

You keep complaining that Israel has not provided the UN with advanced information, established guilt to their satisfaction or acceded to their requests to provide the accused with diplomatic immunity. I've yet to see the legal (or other compelling) bases for Israel to agree to any of these requests. You similarly cite the UN's purported investigation as proof of innocence. We've also yet to see the nature and content of that investigation, although the UN is free to provide all its evidence to both the accused defense counsel and/or the Israeli authorities.

The arrest and likely trial is certain to cause problems for the UN's work in Gaza. That's not the fault of Israel, but rather the terrorist government of Hamas and its sympathizers.

Where else does the UN distribute aid where the government and the terrorists are the same people?

Here's a question for you:

Where does Hamas get the concrete that they use to build their tunnels from?

He's getting a trial. That's where evidence is presented. Nobody is saying that they don't have to prove their case in a court of law... but they don't need to tip that case any other suspects that may have been identified as part of the investigation.

to present.

It would be a bit embarrasing if it was revealed that the only evidence was a confession made under duress...

Still waiting on you to back up this laugher.

Where does Hamas get their concrete from?

Other than weapons, concrete has the strictest controls in place.How is something that's "impossible to divert" ending up in terror tunnels instead of houses?

Don't worry... We aren't holding our breath.

Or Hamas terror tunnels leading into UNRWA buildings? How about UNRWA employee antisemitic hate incitement on Facebook & within children's classrooms in Gaza?

What has the UN done about all this that has led you to believe they're a credible organization when it comes to judging Israel?

No firings.
No arrests.
Nothing.

So what makes you think the UN deserves any respect from Israel?

remove Bursh's immunity.

Usually, this isn't a big deal, but in this case it seems as if the charges are completely bogus. Blaming the UN for all kinds of things won't change that.

However, he is a local worker not usually entitled to any form of diplomatic protection.

Just being a local employee of the UN by itself entitles no one to diplomatic immunity anywhere. There are actual well-established rules, and it takes more than an after the fact UN demand to be accorded diplomatic recognition.

Simply, the UN really wants this public relations disaster to go away yesterday before it more severely impacts aid donations. I further imagine that Hamas is pressuring the UN agencies and workers operating in Gaza and impeding aid distribution as a means of securing Borsh's release. To the surprise of no one, Israel does not find the difficulties of Hamas and the UN to be particularly regrettable or persuasive.