On Wednesday, the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN together with the Yad Chaim Herzog Association and AJC, will hold a special event to commemorate the UN resolution that compared Zionism to Racism. Attendees will include UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, United States Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power,the family of Chaim Herzog, who served as Israel’s Ambassador to the UN when the infamous resolution was passed, and other important guests.On November 10th 1975, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Chaim Herzog, delivered one of the most influential speeches in history denouncing the UN resolution that equated Zionism with Racism. The resolution, which was part of the Arab League’s campaign to isolate Israel in the international arena, was adopted by a wide majority, and was only repealed in 1991. This period of time was the lowest point of Israeli - UN relations.
In his historic speech, given on the day the shameful resolution was adopted, Ambassador Herzog proclaimed: “For us, the Jewish people, this is but a passing episode in a rich and an event-filled history….”, and in a dramatic and memorable moment, he tore up the UN resolution on the podium of the General Assembly, and declared “For us, the Jewish people, this is no more than a piece of paper and we shall treat it as such”.
Israel’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Danon said with regard to the upcoming event: “40 years ago, a dark chapter was written in the UN’s history, and despite the retraction of the resolution, the hypocrisy and delegitimization against Israel still echo in the halls of this organization. The UN must tear this page from its history, and open a new page of fairness and equality among all its member states.”
The event will take place on November 11, 6:30 pm in Conference Room 4.
Media interested in covering the event should RSVP at media.israel.un@gmail.com